California's community colleges saw a drop in enrollment for the 2009-10 school year, but not due to lack of demand, according to the head of the state's community college system.

Rather, the statewide decline of about 1 percent -- 3.3 percent in the Foothill-De Anza district alone -- is due to lack of funding for classes and sections, California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott said in a statement released last week. Statewide, class sections reportedly are down by about 5 percent.

"Our enrollment is not dropping due to a lack of demand," Scott said. "As demonstrated by last year's record high enrollment of nearly 3 million students, our colleges are more popular than ever."

According to Becky Bartindale, spokesperson for the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, despite the drop in enrollment for the 2009-10 school year there were long waiting lists for fall- and winter-quarter classes. She said the district is currently serving the equivalent of 900 full-time students for whom they are receiving no money from the state.

The district must balance next year's budget with over $10 million less than this year due to funding cuts. That figure was calculated even after a health benefits reduction approved for all employees in December freed up $5.3 million.

— Kelsey Mesher

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