APTOS - Cabrillo College has a new teacher's contract, but it doesn't address an old problem: providing academic counselors during the summer.

Most of Cabrillo's instructors work 175 days per year, per their contract, but not all work during the summer, said Paul Harvell, Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers president at Monday's regular board meeting.

Counselors are part of the teachers union and usually work during the summer. In the past, they've been paid through extra funds that in the upcoming meager budget year, are not available.

"Counseling needs to be dealt with on a wide basis," Harvell said, referring not just to summer scheduling, but the practice itself.

According to an as-yet unapproved resolution the college is planning to send to state lawmakers, Cabrillo College has lost $3.7 million in the past year, including 8 percent in state funding, frozen or eliminated 31 positions, and cut about 350 classes.

Many trustees lamented the gap in summer counseling, when they said students need it most for planning their upcoming year.

"It's like a restaurant closed between six and nine at night," said Governing Board chair Gary Reese. "This is a serious issue and will continue to be serious."

Trustees asked for a plan to deal with summer counseling issues, noting that closed session negotiations pushed the meeting more than one-half hour behind schedule.

College administrators made mention of the third

"We never like to do this," said Reese.

One layoff is changing a full-time clerical worker in the popular dental hygiene program to part-time.

"It's disappointing," said Stephanie Stainback, president of the classified union. "That program has full-time needs."

Stainback said the college is trying to put laid off workers into new jobs, but skill sets don't always translate.

Other layoffs were finalized, including for eight employees paid through means other than general fund dollars, be they grants or one-time funds, for example.

Meanwhile, the university is hiring some administrative positions, including in maintenance and plant operations. One position, the director of facilities planning and plant operations, is responsible for emergency preparedness, construction projects and a department budget.

The college also acknowledged the need to put possibly open trustee positions on the November ballot. Cabrillo College has seven trustee positions based on areas of the county, three of which will be up for election in November. The positions are currently held by Claudine Whitman, Gary Reese and Alan Smith and it was unclear if the three would run again for their seats.

The meeting also recognized the upcoming graduation proceedings, set for 6 p.m. on June 4 at Carl Connelly Stadium. Individual programs will hold their own ceremonies, starting with the Latino Graduation Ceremony at 3 p.m. on May 15 at the Crocker Theater.