In an attempt to balance the school budget, Santa Rosa Junior College President Dr Robert Agrella announced today that the school will reduce the number of vacant positions to be filled by new employees.

Originally the school planned to fill 21 full-time positions, however, in a Feb. 8 memo, Agrella announced that he reduced the number to 10.

“I do not believe it is prudent to proceed with the hiring faculty positions I previously released,” Agrella wrote.

The positions that will still be filled include: five counseling jobs; one in Petaluma, three in Santa Rosa, and one to work with CalWORKS. Other positions to remain are: culinary arts, emergency medical care, mathematics, pharmacy technician and sustainable agriculture.

Due to a number of recent retirements, the college has been advertising available positions in an attempt to recruit candidates.

Laura-Downing Lee, a theater arts instructor, said, “I think the reality is we are in for a tough time.” She went on to say that the school has to do what they can to provide an education for the students.