When Dave Kenyon took a trip in sixth grade to the Sierra College planetarium, he had no idea that 20 years later he would be the man behind the projector.

It’s been more than two decades since the college’s astronomy professor’s first visit to the planetarium and nothing’s changed.

The plastic chairs now have thin covers over them to conceal the large cracks. The projector, installed in 1964, still works. But Kenyon said it has only one replacement part left — a part that is no longer made — if it breaks down again.

Still, classes held in the planetarium are popular with students, he said.

“You figure it out,” Kenyon said.

This story is a shared one on Sierra College’s Rocklin campus.

Teachers and students are making the most of out-dated facilities on the almost 50-year-old campus.

“We’re able to keep everything safe but just barely,” said Sue Michaels, the college’s public information officer.

Last month the college learned along with the 72 other community colleges in the state that the system was getting an $84.4 million budget cut. On top of that, Sierra College officials say they’re already grossly underfunded compared to University of California and California State University system schools.

Community colleges in the state, including Sierra, receive about $5,800 per student per year.

“It’s not adequate,” said Leo Chavez, president and superintendent of Sierra College.

In comparison, K-12 schools receive almost $11,000 per student, California state universities collect $12,200 and University of California system schools get about $25,000 per student, according to the legislative analyst’s office analysis of the 2007-08 budget bill.

Michaels explained that community colleges like Sierra get money from the state’s general fund, which is divided differently every year.

“We never know from one year to the next,” Michaels said. “It’s really difficult to make long-range plans.”

Chavez added that while property tax in Placer County has risen, funding for the college has no direct connection to it. Thus, the college’s money from the state has not corresponded with the increase, he said.

Money is tight and repairs are plentiful, including in the math and science building. The department has been able to stay up to date with equipment, but toilets back up, the roof leaks and signs of corrosion are on several sink heads.

This past winter, part of the planetarium’s ceiling was replaced because of water damage, according to Mike Sequeira, interim associate dean of science and mathematics at Sierra College. Despite the problems, Sequeira said staff is still able to provide students with a meaningful classroom experience.

“(The building) has really served us well but really it’s past its prime in many respects,” Sequeira said.

Old building facilities also mean less room for an expanding student population.

In a recent letter to the editor, Sierra College board trustee Bill Martin outlined how the college has more and more students on a waiting list.

The college does have a request for more state funding for another building, but that’s been delayed another year, he said.

“There’s such a tremendous back log across the state with requests from community colleges,” Martin said.

Some solutions have been put in place. More online courses are offered and staff is promoting a new no-cancellation policy. That policy means once the schedule for the semester is released, no classes will be canceled. It’s already been put in place with math and science courses with success, according to Sequeira.

Sierra College sophomore Amy Oettle said she has run into some troubles with scheduling. It wasn’t until her last semester she was able to enroll in an anatomy course. That said, Oettle said she is happy to go to the college, and feels “fortunate” to be a student there.

“I know the science building is old, but I still feel that it doesn’t hinder our learning,” Oettle said.

The Journal’s Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment at auburnjournal.com.