The problem with legacies
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College presidents are all about legacies. Gil Stork is no different. He, too, wants to leave a legacy at Cuesta.
In lockstep with the company line, board President Barbara George, said that Stork's contract "amendments" of a $51,000 stipend and a $10,359 boost to his $217,545 current salary were consistent with past practice for retiring presidents. Just because this was past practice doesn't make it right. Cuesta's enrollment is in the tank and keeps dipping. The buck should stop with Stork. But, instead, the buck ended up in his pocket.
Add to that, the district gave faculty a golden handshake but didn't do the same for classified staff, saying it was not cost-effective. The board refused to give the neediest employee group—the support staff that keeps the college running—the perk that faculty got while the president got a sweetheart deal.
If Stork wishes to leave a positive legacy, I would urge him to accept the money bestowed upon him by the board and donate it to scholarships for Cuesta students of color and include classified staff in the handshake as the ethical and financially responsible thing to do. Come on. Leave a real legacy. One that money can't buy.
Marilyn Rossa
Arroyo Grande
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