The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) Board of Trustees and the San Bernardino Community College District Teacher’s Association (SBCCDTA) are at an impasse over the health insurance funding model for part-time faculty, despite a unanimous vote on 14 September to support a legislative advocacy item seeking direct state funding for health insurance.
The state has approved a $200.49 million budget for 2022. But the current funding model, which requires the district to front $13.2 million for health benefits and then wait for state reimbursement, has been criticised for its financial instability.
Dr Stephanie Houston, chair of the SBCCD board of trustees, expressed gratitude for the state’s commitment, but stressed that the current model needs to be refined. “We appreciate the state’s commitment to the well-being of our part-time faculty. However, the current funding model needs to be improved in order for us to fully realize its benefits,” Houston said.
SBCCD Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez echoed this sentiment, arguing for direct state funding to avoid financial limbo. “Direct funding would be a game changer for our community college district, alleviating financial pressures and ensuring that our part-time faculty are well taken care of without compromising our services to students,” Rodriguez stressed.
In contrast, Ed Gomez, president of the SBCCDTA, has been vocal about the district’s alleged refusal to apply for the 100% reimbursement programme, calling it a “cheap way out”. Gomez pointed out that 11 major districts, including the Los Angeles and San Diego Community College Districts, have successfully used the programme, receiving 80% of the funds in June and the remaining 20% in November.
“For 25 years, we’ve been sitting at this table asking for better health care, and in July 2022, $200 million of state money was set aside for this, and our district basically said we can’t trust the state of California to reimburse us,” Gomez expressed, highlighting a long-standing struggle to secure access to health care for part-time faculty.
The current part-time active plan, according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated 22 April 2022, offers an Anthem Blue Cross PPO High Deductible Plan to all eligible part-time faculty members and dependents at a 100% employee contribution, with a maximum of 10 part-time faculty members funded each month, not to exceed $45,000 for the 2022-2023 plan year.
Highlighting the limitations of the current plan, Gomez said, “We have 7 out of 835 part-time professors who can afford the highest level of PPO health insurance – we have six levels and we refuse to allow any level but the highest.”
The SBCCDTA has been a vocal advocate for years, persistently pushing for improved access to health care for part-time faculty. The California Governor’s Office took a decisive step by hiring a consultant to calculate the cost of having all community college districts participate in the health insurance program, which came to a figure of $200 million. Gomez remains hopeful that with sustained community involvement – such as attending board meetings, signing petitions, and contacting the district directly – a solution that ensures secure and equitable health care for part-time faculty may be within reach.
The district and the SBCCDTA continue to navigate the complex situation, each advocating for a model they believe will best serve the part-time faculty and the financial health of the SBCCD. With state funding available, the path forward will depend on negotiations, policy decisions and a re-evaluation of the current funding model.
