We know that we have a big responsibility to the parents, to the students, and to the public taxpayers to make sure that our students are having the opportunity to graduate in a timely fashion.

There is a certain level of sensitivity [when parents want to transfer students]. But the district has a responsibility to manage the overcrowded schools.

None of us like to raise tuition rates. But public funding on a per-student, inflation-adjusted basis has continually declined over the past 15 years.

I expressed some concern and displeasure about the overall size of the finish-out and the budget.

It's time for us to get serious about it.

If we have to look at new revenues, so be it. The fact is, higher education in general doesn't have a lot of advocates out there pounding on the table. We have to do a better job. But getting people to get out and advocate and stand up and take some hits and confront maybe some of their friends — it's hard to do sometimes.