Santiago Canyon College President Jeannie Kim didn’t mince words during her last month’s convocation. Kim’s one unmistakable PowerPoint slide spelled it out with clarity. The college is teetering on the edge of a $3 million structural deficit.
The slide’s title alone signals austerity ahead, and perhaps even deeper turmoil beneath the surface.
What’s driving this projected shortfall? That’s a question worth examining, especially as Santiago Canyon College is part of the larger Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) — a district marred by recent controversy and questionable leadership.
At the center of that other storm is Chancellor Marvin Martinez.
Martinez and his senior administrators have been under fire following a blistering audit earlier this year alleging financial conflict, violations of state education code and budgetary guidelines with millions withheld from district trustees, union representatives, and even its own auditors.
Is Kim’s warning of a projected deficit the result of a district plagued by failing leadership?
Her critics haven’t forgotten the lavish inauguration ceremony two years ago—an event that felt more like a royal coronation than a modest welcome for a college president.
Kim’s decision to move forward this November with a gourmet dinner and live entertainment “Gala” to celebrate the college’s 25th anniversary raises even more questions about her leadership.
Extravagance during a fiscal crisis is not good optics.
And how does all this reflect on the City of Orange, which is grappling with its own financial woes?
The parallels are hard to ignore. According to Kim’s presentation, Santiago Canyon College may be in the same perilous boat as the city of Orange.
And both appear to be taking on water fast.
Dr. Barry Resnick retired in 2022 after 42 years as a professor of counseling with the Rancho Santiago CCD. He has resided with his family in Orange for 38 years
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