Balanced budget dedicates around $20M to free college program
By Ana Mata/Daily Journal The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journaland is being reprinted with permission.
The San Mateo County Community College District is working to make college truly freefor county residents — extending the discount beyond tuition and academics to waive parking permits and health care fees.
For Fiscal Year 2025-26, the community college district has a proposed balanced budget, working with an unrestricted general fund of approximately $279 million, Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Storti said.
More than $20 million is set aside specifically to fund the district’s free college initiative, the zero cost textbook program, and waiving health service fees and parking permits, aligning with the district’s continued efforts to make access to higher education actually free, Storti said.
Additionally, $1.29 million is dedicated to the district’s Promise Scholars Program, which provides financial, academic and personalized student services to program participants whose goal is to earn an associate’s degree or certificate, according to a staff report.
In addition to financial support for academics and associated school fees, the community college district is also developing student housing at its campuses. Currently, the district is focused on plans for a student housing facility at College of San Mateo, with a hopeful move-in date of July 2027.
The budget currently is accounting for $56 million in funding from the state, and $10 million from the district to construct the housing. There’s an anticipated shortfall of around $20 million due to inflated costs of construction, which the district hopes the state will fund. However, reserves have been set aside by the district that will fill this gap if necessary, Storti said.
Board Trustee John Pimentel noted that the district’s efforts to maintain appropriate reserves on standby for the housing project will keep the development moving along.
For the district’s capital improvement program, it is looking at the possibility of private financing for specific projects and may look toward asking voters for a general obligation bond for facilities upgrade, according to a staff report.
The long-term goal is to develop an ongoing funding stream to self-fund the needed improvements. All unspent site allocations will be restricted to specifically fund future capital improvements. Beginning 2026-27, the district’s resource allocation model will allocate property taxes above $100 million as “excess” for capital funds.
Another notable capital project underway is the design and permitting of the facility to house a full-day preschool program at Cañada College. Construction is set to begin in December, and will be operating by next fall.
By Ana Mata/Daily Journal The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.
Atop a grass hill on the College of San Mateo’s campus, two stages will erect next weekend, returning for the beloved, annual daylong celebration of live jazz music.
Free and open to the public, Jazz on the Hill returns 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 7, with jazz, blues and Latin music performed on two stages. This year, organizers are emphasizing the event as a family affair.
Hosted by KCSM Jazz 91, the 24-hour jazz station operating on the campus, the event is an opportunity for daily radio listeners to come together and not only tune in live but tune in in person.
For Robert Franklin, KCSM’s station manager, the success of the event is because “it’s rich, culturally.”
“Music is the universal language,” Franklin said. “This is an opportunity for families to come and enjoy great music and outstanding musicians from the area.”
Kicking off the festival at 11 a.m. on the main stage will be Skylar Tang, a 19-year-old trumpet player and composer from the Bay Area. Tang has played with renowned musicians — including Larry Vuckovich, who is taking the stage at 3 p.m. — and toured with Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra Jazz Band, according to her website bio.
Until 6 p.m., performances will flip between the main stage and youth stage, providing a range of instrumentalists, styles and levels of expertise. The youth stage debuted last year and garnered a lot of positive feedback, Franklin said.
This year, performers will include Jazz Education Ensemble, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the San Francisco Jazz High School Allstar Combo and the San Jose Jazz High School Allstars.
Part of the value of hosting a youth stage is the effect it might have on young people in the crowd who may be, or aren’t yet, interested in performing live or learning an instrument, Franklin said.
“There’s something about good positive peer pressure,” Franklin said. “When young people see other young people doing things, they become more excited than when perhaps they see an older person do it.”
Another aspect is the ability to provide aspiring musicians a place to experience what it means to perform live for an audience. Jazz on the Hill provides young people a chance to present their art to an audience and get that feel for the connection, Franklin said.
“Before Carnegie Hall or some large international stage, there’s a small stage somewhere in the community where they get their start from,” Franklin said. “Maybe [for] some of those young people, maybe this will be their small stage.”
The night will end with a performance by Afro-Cuban singer Bobi Céspedes, who will perform music that “integrates Cuban folklore and modern elements in an authentic and distinctive sound,” according to her website bio.
Another highlight, Franklin noted, will be Kim Nalley: Three Ladies Sing the Blues.
On-site will also be food trucks, craft booths and organizations from throughout the Bay Area. The event is a serious undertaking and is “an even heavier undertaking financially,” Franklin said, but seeing people come together on the Hill reminds him that “it’s that good work.”
The day after Jazz on the Hill 2025, Franklin and his team will begin planning for the next year. A new effort to fundraise and plan the event will be launched as well. Those in the community interested in becoming involved in “Friends of Jazz on the Hill” will work to increase funding and financial support for the event, Franklin said. More information will be presented at this year’s event.
The goal will remain to provide free, high-quality live jazz to the public for as long as possible, Franklin said, whether attendees are jazz aficionados or have never tuned in to the station before.
“You don’t have to be an aficionado to be inspired by what will be happening on June 7,” Franklin said. “That beautiful sense of community, the coming together of a positive atmosphere, communities coming together — that’s all the hallmarks of a strong community.”
Search to find permanent leader of the San Bruno college complete
By Ana Mata/Daily Journal The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.
Dr. Nathan Carter will be the new president of Skyline College beginning this summer, ending a multiyear effort to find a permanent replacement for the college’s former president and now district Chancellor Melissa Moreno.
Carter was unanimously approved by the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees, as recommended by Moreno, at its meeting April 30. He will begin in his new role July 1, leading the college that serves more than 15,000 students each year on its San Bruno campus.
Before receiving the official confirmation from the board that he would be approved for the new presidential role, Carter spoke of his excitement to return to California and his readiness to “build something great.”
“From the moment that I first connected with Skyline, I felt this energy, this passion,” Carter said. “There’s a shared purpose in this district and at Skyline that truly moves people.”
Moreno congratulated Carter at the board meeting, and said he should be proud of “surviving a very long and thorough and competitive selection process.”
“Please know that you are among exceptional and talented finalists,” Moreno said. “Congratulations to you and we are very much looking forward to you joining this great district.”
Carter is currently the chief institutional effectiveness and inclusion officer at Northern Virginia Community College, the second-largest community college in the country. Carter attended Sacramento City College before transferring to the University of the Pacific for his bachelor’s degree. He then attended California State University Northridge for his master’s, and earned his doctorate in intercultural communication and rhetoric from Howard University in Washington.
Carter’s contract is for $283,788 annual salary from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. The San Mateo County Community College District oversees Cañada College in Redwood City, the College of San Mateo and Skyline College in San Bruno.
“Skyline College is on track to reach new heights of excellence under Dr. Carter’s leadership and his uncompromised collaborative and collegial approach,” Moreno said in a press release.
The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) is seeking volunteers to serve as members on the Measure H Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC). Openings are currently available for one member who is active in a bona fide taxpayers’ organization and multiple members in community-at-large positions.
The CBOC is charged by state law to ensure that bond proceeds are spent only for construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of District facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of facilities or the acquisition or lease of real property, in compliance with the specific projects listed in Measure H on the November 2014 ballot.
The SMCCCD Measure H CBOC meets four times per year to receive updates from staff on recent activity related to the bond, review expenditure reports, participate in optional site tours, and issue an annual report.
Applications are now being accepted from any eligible person, 18 years or older, interested in filling one of these three vacancies. Employees, vendors, contractors, and consultants of the district are prohibited by law from being members of the committee.
The SMCCCD Chancellor’s office reviews applications, selects candidates, and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees appoints members of the CBOC.
For additional information or questions, contact David McLain, Executive Director of Community and Government Relations, at (650) 730-8049 or mclaind@smccd.edu.
The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) is seeking volunteers to serve as members on the Measure H Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC). Openings are currently available for one member who is active in a bona fide taxpayers’ organization, one member who is a current student in SMCCCD and active in student life, and multiple members in community-at-large positions.
The CBOC is charged by state law to ensure that bond proceeds are spent only for construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of District facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of facilities or the acquisition or lease of real property, in compliance with the specific projects listed in Measure H on the November 2014 ballot.
The SMCCCD Measure H CBOC meets four times per year to receive updates from staff on recent activity related to the bond, review expenditure reports, participate in optional site tours, and issue an annual report.
Applications are now being accepted from any eligible person, 18 years or older, interested in filling one of these three vacancies. Employees, vendors, contractors, and consultants of the district are prohibited by law from being members of the committee.
The SMCCCD Chancellor’s office reviews applications, selects candidates, and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees appoints members of the CBOC.
For additional information or questions, contact David McLain, Executive Director of Community and Government Relations, at (650) 730-8049 or mclaind@smccd.edu.
The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) is seeking volunteers to serve as members on the Measure H Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC), representing three distinct constituencies:
a member who is active in a bona fide taxpayers’ organization;
a member who is a student both currently enrolled in SMCCCD and an active member of a group, such as student government;
a member who is active in the support and organization of the District, such as a member of a college/district advisory council or the SMCCC Foundation.
The CBOC is charged by state law to ensure that bond proceeds are spent only for construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of District facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of facilities or the acquisition or lease of real property, in compliance with the specific projects listed in Measure H on the November 2014 ballot.
The SMCCCD Measure H CBOC meets four times per year to receive updates from staff on recent activity related to the bond, review expenditure reports, participate in optional site tours, and issue an annual report.
Applications are now being accepted from any eligible person, 18 years or older, interested in filling one of these three vacancies. Employees, vendors, contractors, and consultants of the district are prohibited by law from being members of the committee.
The SMCCCD Chancellor’s office reviews applications, selects candidates, and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees appoints members of the CBOC.
For additional information or questions, contact David McLain, Executive Director of Community and Government Relations, at (650) 730-8049 or mclaind@smccd.edu.
By Ana Mata/Daily Journal The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journaland is being reprinted with permission.
KCSM Station Manager Robert Franklin speaks in front of a panel filled with the station’s ‘curators’ after a screening of the new documentary film developed in honor of the station’s 60th anniversary. Photo courtesy of Robert Franklin
A new hourlong documentary about the legacy and cultural relevance of jazz, featured recently at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival, celebrates the dedicated announcers at KCSM for teaching the world about what they consider to be America’s only original art form.
For six decades, 91.1 FM has given listeners across the Peninsula, south Bay Area and world access to jazz music around the clock, broadcast by the listener-supporter radio station hosted at the College of San Mateo.
“It’s a milestone that reflects the incredible legacy of this station and the global impact of our mission here at the San Mateo County Community College District,” Chancellor Melissa Moreno said. “KCSM has always been more than a radio station, it’s a bridge between education and art.”
At a screening of the film Jan. 30, KCSM staff discussed how navigating the largest jazz record collection in the world — “you’ll get lost” announcer James Graves said — is a feat each hopes to endure for as long as possible for the sake of growing the music’s reach.
The station has access to over 100,000 titles, with a majority inherited from former jazz station KJAZ after it signed off in 1996. Music Director Jesse “Chuy” Varela said the station still receives 50 to 100 new titles each month, adding to the ever-growing library of CDs, LPs, 45s and digital files.
Education is at the forefront of KCSM, epitomized by its location on a community college campus, which is why there are a variety of titles its announcers feel are apt — disc jockeys, broadcasters, aficionados all remain accurate, but “curators” is the most honest description of what program hosts do, Varela said.
“Much like people will put up a framed piece of art in a museum so that people can enjoy the beauty, that’s the way that we like to program,” Varela said. “They know music well enough to present it in an artistic and knowledgeable way and teach you about and speak to the qualities that make it a valuable piece of music to share.”
There is dedication among announcers to provide an experience alongside the music. For Sonny Buxton, a veteran on-air personality and fixture in the Bay Area jazz scene, he likes “to climb into the show.” Announcer Michael Burman prides himself in not repeating music within a year.
“If we play a song, there is a certain ‘I, Michael Burman, recommend this in some way, with respect to what went before, with respect to what’s coming up afterwards, or because it’s just really awful and this will give you an idea of how good all the other stuff is,’” Burman said. “But you can’t do that unless you listen to it.”
As he was becoming familiar with the station in early 2024, Station Manager Dr. Robert Franklin said he noticed the passion the announcers of KCSM had for jazz and felt it deserved to be documented.
The effort to produce a film honoring the station’s 60th anniversary was led by Franklin, whom the College of San Mateo President Dr. Manuel Alejandro Perez described as “warmth, intelligence, inspiration and art in a person.”
Franklin said the foundation for this legacy was built by those who came before him, including Melanie Berzon, the former program director for the station.
“Our announcers have been rolling up their sleeves and creatively producing awe inspiring jazz, blues, soul, funk African and world music for listeners of the Bay and across the world for six decades,” Franklin said.
A champion for women musicians and women in general, Berzon was key in establishing the station’s International Women’s Day annual programming.
“I believe in inclusivity, and that means that when I do a show, I am very aware of the music I’m choosing and the artists that are bringing us that music,” Berzon said in the film. “I am also aware of the history of jazz, and the history of jazz is not necessarily an all inclusive one.”
Jazz is “at the centerpiece of Black American music” said documentary narrator and vocalist Tiffany Austin. Described as the only original artwork that America has contributed to the world, jazz is integral to understanding the Black experience, interviewees throughout the film said.
“To understand the immense value of jazz is to understand that empowerment, justice, innovation and inspiration are so intricately and beautifully woven into the origins, traditions and legacies of this genre,” Perez said.
Zaki Nadiri, a KCSM supporter and mechanic working in Bayview, said in the film that jazz is much more than entertainment.
“I’ve been taught that the word ‘music’ was what sounds pleasing to the ear — what we call jazz, it does more than sound good, it changes your attitude, it changes your personality, it changes your well-being,” Nadiri said.
The film honors 60 years of the station, but the plan is for it to last much longer. Looking ahead, KCSM is navigating how to connect with younger listeners and invite them into the world of jazz.
“They’re the ones that got their ears to the ground,” Varela said. “They’re the ones who are really picking up on what’s new and what’s happening. The way that jazz works, one generation passes it on to the next.”
College of San Mateo students hold internship roles at the station, helping digitize vinyl records and organize music, and many station announcers make efforts to tap in to what kids are listening to. Franklin has spoken about drawing connections to hip-hop as the genre grows in popularity.
“We have to listen to young people,” announcer Jayn Pettingill said in the film. “We have to go where they are, we have to find what they’re into, and then we have to make the connection between what they’re into and this art form.”
The documentary film is available for purchase as a “donate with a gift” in the ongoing KCSM Winter Fund Drive. In coming weeks, it will be made available for download as well.
Until then, “there’s a lot going on, so stay tuned at kcsm.org,” Chuy said.
Enrollment increases, district plans for long-term service
By Ana Mata/Daily Journal The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journaland is being reprinted with permission.
With a year of its free college initiative underway, the San Mateo County Community College District is celebrating significant increases in enrollment and equity as it looks to its sustainability going forward.
Since fall 2022, the district has seen a 24% increase in enrollment in student headcount and a total of 26,656 students who have directly benefited from the program and the passage of Senate Bill 893, Vice Chancellor Dr. Aaron McVean said.
The majority of students who benefited from the program were students from historically marginalized communities of color, and first generation college students, McVean said.
“Our district’s role in breaking intergenerational poverty has been dramatically increased thanks to SB 893 and free college,” McVean said. “We as a district, in providing this access and helping students complete their certificates, degrees and transfer, that is an act of social justice.”
SB 893 passed in 2022 authorizing the district to use general funds to pay enrollment fees and other costs for students. McVean reported that the majority of funds dedicated to the initiative are used for covering the state-mandatory $46 per unit enrollment fee for county residents.
Additional funds have been dedicated to providing extra support for students demonstrating financial need, which has totaled 5,189 to date, and contribute to registration, materials and additional fees.
The bill was passed for a five-year pilot period, and the district must submit a report to the department of finance and state Legislature by March 1, 2026, to request an extension “into infinity,” McVean said.
The West Valley Mission Community College District just recently got its own version of free college signed into law, suggesting progress in the widespread adoption of free community college in the state again.
“This has provided a model and continues to extend that free college movement here in the state,” McVean said. “While we’re optimistic, we definitely need to look at how we sustain SB 893 and free college moving forward.”
The district currently budgets just under $9 million of its general fund to support the initiative. Financial sustainability will hopefully become strengthened as the move toward free community college throughout the state progresses, McVean said.
The initiative remains a priority for the district’s Board of Trustees and Chancellor Melissa Moreno, they have said previously.
Prior to the passing of the bill and implementation of free college, the district was consistently seeing a decrease in enrollment. From the 2011-12 school year to 2020-21 school years, the district’s number of students declined 23% overall, and full-time students declined 28%.
Outgoing board President John Pimentel said beyond finding the funds to continue this service for the foreseeable future, trustees and district staff should dedicate significant effort to getting the word out to the community.
“I think it would be equally wise investment to make sure we had an aggressive plan to share this good news,” Pimentel said.
Regardless of ticket price, the dedicated funds to providing free college to county residents is “an investment back to our community,” McVean said.
“This is such an incredible effort, everybody on the staff, on the board, our political leaders were part of this process and I just couldn’t be more delighted with the results,” Pimentel said. “Now we’ve got to go make it permanent.”
At three commencement ceremonies held on Friday, May 24, and Saturday, May 25, over a thousand students took to the stages at Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College to celebrate their academic achievements. Districtwide, this year’s graduating class earned over 4,300 degrees and certificates which underscores the dedication and hard work of the District’s students, faculty, and staff.
2023-24 Highlights
8 Bachelor’s Degrees: Among the notable achievements is awarding eight bachelor’s degrees, specifically for the Respiratory Care program at Skyline College.
1,508 Associate Degrees: A total of 1,508 associate degrees have been conferred, reflecting the commitment of students to pursue higher education and acquire essential skills for their future endeavors.
2,797 Certificates: Additionally, 2,797 certificates have been awarded, signifying proficiency and expertise in various fields of study.
Age Diversity: The graduating class showcases an impressive age range, from the youngest graduate at 15 to the oldest at 78, demonstrating that education knows no bounds.
Global Representation: 118 international students from 28 countries earned degrees and certificates, contributing to a diverse and vibrant learning environment.
Out-of-State Students: 102 out-of-state students have received degrees and certificates, highlighting the District’s appeal beyond its immediate vicinity.
Support for Veterans: The District is proud to recognize the achievements of 101 veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who have earned degrees and certificates, demonstrating a commitment to supporting those who have served our country.
DACA/Dreamer/AB540 Students: 110 DACA/Dreamer/AB540 students graduated, emphasizing inclusivity and accessibility in higher education.
First-Generation College Students: An impressive 1,604 graduates are first-generation college students, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations.
Support for Foster Youth: The District celebrates the success of 22 foster youth who have earned degrees and certificates, showcasing resilience and determination in overcoming challenges.
Support for Justice-Impacted Individuals: Thirteen incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, or justice-impacted individuals have graduated, underscoring the District’s commitment to providing opportunities for all community members.
Academic Excellence: A total of 716 graduates have earned academic honors, including cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude distinctions, recognizing their exceptional academic achievements.
The San Mateo County Community College District congratulates all 2023-24 graduates for their remarkable accomplishments and wishes them continued success in their future endeavors.
