The Personnel Effectiveness Program is a strategic way of addressing personnel problems facing the Alamo Community College District.

The program is still being designed by the presidents, vice chancellors and chancellor, who are discussing the different options before taking action.

Targeting resources where they are needed and demanded is the PEP's main focus. Also, a great part has to do with relocating and hiring personnel, whether it is contracting employees for the new buildings or relocating existing employees to another ACC college.

All the decisions will be made keeping in mind fairness to current personnel as well as the needs of current and future students. Twenty new buildings will be opened in the next few years at the Alamo Community Colleges, including the all-new Northeast Lakeview College.

"According to initial ACC administrative discussions, placing employees where they're needed instead of hiring new personnel will not only save money but time," said Anita C. Soliz, Palo Alto's Staff Council President.

Soliz mentioned that the new strategic plan is still being designed or formulated and that nothing has been implemented yet.

"Right now, everything is under discussion; they are just trying to see if the new plan is suitable in regards to saving money," said Soliz.

Within the changes, the administration is also thinking that it may be a better idea to contract out additional personnel for the new Northeast Lakeview College. This does not mean that the people who are already working for ACC are going to lose their jobs, but they may be assisting or training the people who will be contract employees.

"I think PEP is a way for our District to systematize the number of employees," said Dr. Ana M. "Cha" Guzmán, president of Palo Alto. "There has not been a growth in enrollment at the colleges, and there is a tremendous investment in new buildings."

"The PEP Program is a cautionary way of insuring that we hire in the appropriate areas," added Guzmán.

For more information on the Personnel Effectiveness Program, go to www.accd.edu/main/html/admin/chancellor