While President Obama puts more emphasis on community colleges in the country, many local schools are left trying to do more with less.
"To have Obama calling attention to how we can better educate the work force is really exciting," said Jennifer Howard, Vice President of Administrative Services at Everett Community College. "But while the demand goes up, we are facing some pretty significant challenges to keep up."
State budget cuts are forcing the college to make $1.4 million cuts to the current school year budget. Including last years reductions, Howard estimates Everett Community College will be forced to trim a total of about $9 million between 2009-2011.
"We are now to the point that we have to start cutting programs and staff," she said.
Still, the Community College has seen a 6 percent increase in student enrollment compared to a year ago. There was also a record number, 9000 applications submitted for the current school year.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation plans to donate $35 million to 9 community colleges in the country, including Washington. But that money will do little to reverse the types of cuts in Everett.
"The interest is there," said Howard. "We just have to change the way we do things to make sure students continue to get quality education."
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