Funding cut for Arcata High college prep program

The Career and College Center (run by Darcy Robins) provides vital academic and preparatory support for all grade levels at Arcata High, but particularly for graduating seniors. At the Northern Humboldt UHSD meeting on March 12th, it was confirmed that there is currently no funding in next year’s budget for the C&CC.

“Despite being featured in Arcata High’s mission statement and LCAP and WASC reports, career and college has not made it into the district or site budget,” Robins, who has been running the program for almost 10 years, said. “This leaves the C&CC unfunded next year.”

Superintendent Roger Macdonald explained the reason for the budget cut before open comment began.

“It is not because we don’t see the value in the Career and College Center,” Macdonald said. “The dollars that were funding it have just dried up.”

Multiple teachers at Arcata High then stood up to speak during open comment, vouching for both the necessity of the C&CC and Darcy Robins’ impactful role in the school community.

“The countless hours that the Career and College Center spends with our students go largely unseen,” Johanna Mauro, head of the arts department, said. “Except, if you are a senior who is focused on the application process, and your future seems to be dependent on where you will be accepted and how you will pay for it.”

Mauro went on to state that 80% of AHS graduates end up attending a college or trade school, explaining that support from the C&CC is incredibly vital in those students’ transitional periods.

“Not all of my students want to go to college,” Neil Kalson, a culinary arts teacher, also said. “She’s helped a lot of them get into culinary schools, find housing, and find resources to pay for it. I really appreciate that, as do many of my CTE colleagues.”

Apart from college-related support, Robins also helps connect students with a variety of opportunities and experiences during high school which can be added to resumes and portfolios.

“Darcy helped me to explore subjects I was passionate about.” John Gerving, who graduated last year, said. “I planned to pursue a career in technology, which there are relatively few opportunities in Humboldt County. Darcy helped me to seek out these opportunities.”

The C&CC has also been a vital beam of support for many disadvantaged students, including those who do not have US citizenship or do not have stable housing.

“Darcy helped me sign a McKinney-Vento form. As a homeless student, that provided a lot of extra support with college,” an anonymous homeless student wrote in an email to me. “Darcy is one of the nicest people on campus, and she’s available way more often than your academic counselors.”

“The beauty of the college and career center is that it helps students see beyond their circumstances,” Emily Silveira, an academic counselor, said during open comment. “It helps undocumented students navigate financial aid.”

“The Arcata High mission statement ends with aspirations of ‘empowering students to reach their full potential to be prepared for future college and career opportunities.’ Funding the C&CC aligns with that mission,” Robins said.

Once open comment concluded, the board assured the audience that they were taking these concerns seriously.

“Budgets are all about priorities,” Trustee JoAnn Moore said. “With the overwhelming number of people who have come out tonight […] finding a way to make this happen is something that is very important for us.”