Kathleen Doyle for SRJC board

Since the average American college graduate leaves school with $22,000 in student loan debt, it’s no surprise that a rising number of students are seeking community college education closer to home. Indeed, about half Petaluma’s high school graduates rely on Santa Rosa Junior College to provide affordable higher education, especially since the cost of attending four-year public universities in California has skyrocketed in recent years.

Given California’s ever-fluctuating public education budget, keen oversight of SRJC’s $127 million annual operating budget is critical to ensuring that education programs are meeting the needs of local students.

Also, as the college seeks to win voter approval of a $410 million bond on the ballot this November to enhance campus facilities, ensuring that the funds are spent effectively will be critical for continued community support.

As such, the college will need a board of trustees that keeps a tight rein on the budget, knows how to get creative when the finances get tight, and isn’t afraid to ask hard questions of the administration when it comes to sensitive topics like employee compensation and benefits. Of the two candidates running to represent Petaluma on the SRJC board on the November ballot, Kathleen Doyle brings the necessary financial acumen and strong knowledge of college finances to best do that job.

A certified public accountant, Doyle served effectively on the SRJC board from 1994 to 2005, helping to pass and implement the college’s last major bond measure in 2002. She continued to read the trustees’ meeting minutes even after she left the board and moved out of state, which made her the obvious choice to return to Petaluma’s seat when trustee Onita Pellegrini stepped down in January. Her fiscal prowess was well known among her peers and she was immediately named chair of the college’s finance committee.

Challenger Maggie Fishman brings the right attitude and plenty of passion to her campaign, not to mention a rich resume of community service. As a longtime teacher, she possesses useful insights on the challenges and opportunities available in education.

But, as both candidates agree, the board has no business getting involved in the classroom; its work is most profound when it comes to properly managing scare financial resources. For this reason, the Argus-Courier recommends Kathleen Doyle for the SRJC board of trustees.