The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees (BOT) announced on March 22 that they will receive more than $5 million funds for their schools as part of the federal Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which addresses essential student services, including transportation, workforce development and basic necessities.
LACCD Board of Trustees President Gabriel Buelna expressed his gratitude to the local members of Congress, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla and President Joe Biden for their support.
“We want to thank our local members of Congress, Senators Feinstein and Padilla and President Joe Biden for their strong support of community colleges, which is evident in this appropriations bill,” Buelna said.
LACCD Board of Trustees Vice President David Vela said this is a special moment for the District.
“This is a momentous occasion for LACCD and will change so many lives,” Vela said.
Legislative and Governmental Affairs Officer Maria Luisa Veloz thought that this bill would help enrollment rates at all LACCD colleges.
“There’s something here for everybody and after the pandemic, a lot of students dropped out,” Veloz said. “We’re trying to do everything we can to convince them to come back.”
Veloz also said that this is the perfect time for students to return to campus.
“We’re in a transition and there couldn’t be a better time,” Veloz said. “[Students] should come back, finish where they left off and just get this out of the way so that they can transfer, get a better job, go back to work or continue with their lives because education is the key to success.”
Some students said that they believe the money will help the schools within the District.
Art major student Joshua Negrete said it’s a lot of money and that it should help.
“That amount of money can go far, not just for our school but all LACCD colleges,” Negrete said.
Nursing major student Don Carlos Margullo said that because of the bill, the future is looking bright for LACCD and for Pierce.
“I think it’s really beneficial to all LACCD students, especially the ones that need it the most,” Margullo said. “I hope it helps the enrollment rate of Pierce and all LACCD colleges. I believe this bill will be a better future for Pierce, staff and students.”
