August 25, 2026
Please note: This email is being sent to all Foothill-De Anza Employees.
Dear Foothill-De Anza Community,
As we prepare for the new academic year, I want to follow up on our June 2026 conversation about the District's transition from apportionment-based funding under the Student
Centered Funding Formula (SCFF) to community-supported funding, also known as Basic
Aid.
We enter this new chapter with a strong financial foundation and an opportunity to
plan thoughtfully for the future. At the same time, the higher education landscape
is changing. Shifts in enrollment, volatility in non-resident and international student
revenue, changing student demographics, growing workforce demands, and rising operating
costs all require us to be more intentional about how we plan and allocate resources.
What Changes and What Does Not
Our mission and commitment to students do not change. What changes is the funding
environment in which we make decisions.
As a community-supported district, our funding is less dependent on enrollment and
annual state funding decisions. This provides greater stability and flexibility, but
it also requires us to think differently about enrollment, programs, staffing, and
resource allocation.
Our focus will be on:
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Aligning resources with priorities that advance student success, employee well-being, and regional needs.
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Being intentional about enrollment and offerings, considering both demand and impact.
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Improving how we work, including our processes, decision-making, and use of resources.
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Planning for long-term sustainability through a clear, thoughtful five-year framework.
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Living within our means, recognizing that the benefits of Basic Aid will take time to fully realize.
What to Expect This Year
In recent years, the District has used ongoing and one-time Unrestricted General Fund
augmentations to support additional instructional sections and address SCFF-related
funding needs. As we transition to community-supported funding, we are reducing reliance
on these augmentations and taking a more sustainable approach to what we can offer
within our available resources.
The 2026–27 academic year will be an important planning year. The colleges will review
schedules, staffing, and resource allocations in light of our new funding environment.
These conversations will occur at both the college and district levels, and leaders
will continue communicating with employees as decisions are made.
We will also create opportunities for our broader community to better understand our
financial position and participate in planning for the future, including a new Basic
Aid webpage, districtwide budget town halls, and continued engagement with faculty,
classified professionals, administrators, students, and trustees.
We will not have all the answers at the outset. This year is an opportunity to better
understand our changing environment, identify our opportunities and challenges, and
make thoughtful choices about where we focus our resources.
The District has a strong foundation and is at an important inflection point. Together,
we have an opportunity to shape a future that is financially sustainable, responsive
to our communities, and centered on providing an exceptional education and experience
for our students.
Sincerely,
Lee D. Lambert
Chancellor and CEO
12345 El Monte Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022-4599
650.949.6100
650.941.1638 (fax)
Executive Assistant: Carla Maitland
maitlandcarla@fhda.edu