REEDLEY – Supporters of Reedley College, representing the city and surrounding communities, lent their voices to leaders of the college and the State Center Community College District.
Dozens of attendees participated in the State Center Vision 2035 Community Feedback Forum the afternoon of July 17, which took place inside Reedley College’s Math and Sciences Building.
Carol Goldsmith, chancellor for (State Center Community College District) SCCCD, and Reedley College President Jerry Buckley delivered brief addresses highlighting achievements and future goals as the college nears its centennial year in 2026.
Buckley led off, informing attendees of the college’s programs, academic offerings and new projects. He specifically highlighted this fall’s scheduled openings of the Early Childhood Development Center and the McClarty Center for Performing Arts. Buckley also pointed out summer paint jobs to buildings that have provided a new color to campus.
Goldsmith followed up by praising the new projects and growth at the college. A bound brochure booklet titled “Report to the Community” also provided an update of the district’s recent achievements and future visions.”
“I do know this about Reedley, Reedley loves its college,” Goldsmith said. “It is a community college where all of our students come and we help them achieve their dreams.” She thanked attendees for being able to “give us a little more insight (of) what you would like to see from us in the next 100 years as we continue to do this work.”
The spotlight of the program then shifted to attendees, which included everyday community members as well as political, educational and business leaders. All were invited up to the front of the meeting room presentation area, where a group of charts were ready information.
The charts — which included the district’s “Vision for 2035,” priorities for the district, partnership ideas and “what did we miss” suggestions – were to be filled with sticky notes filled out by attendees. For much of the first hour, people placed the filled-out sticky notes onto each chart. The notes contain ideas for how to improve the district and college and help both entities to better serve the public.
Both Goldsmith and Buckley thanked attendees for their continued support of the college and district.
“We thank the many donors for our scholarship program; financial support many times makes the difference between the student completing their program of study or not,” Buckley said. “I’d also like to thank our community for supporting our college and our students as we prepare the next generation to work in a complex and challenging world, as well as to re-skill our adults to better meet many of those same challenges.”
For her expression of gratitude, Goldsmith told the audience, “Thank you from the bottom of our heart for your efforts to make our students’ experience one that they hopefully will treasure as much as you did when you came here.”
