Three Sierra College vocational programs slated for closure last month could remain open for at least another year if trustees vote tonight to rescind some layoff notices.

The college will spend the next several months reviewing the agriculture, automotive and construction programs to determine whether to eliminate or revive them, said President Leo Chavez. For now, he said, "We're going to keep all three in a greatly reduced form."

Chavez is asking trustees to rescind layoff notices for seven of the 35 people who received them last month. That would keep full-time faculty teaching the agriculture, automotive and construction classes. But course offerings would be reduced because the college still plans to get rid of part-time instructors and support staff for those departments.

"The bottom line is the student is going to lose 40 percent of the classes, because I need staffing to support the laboratories," said Alex Wong, an automotive teacher whose job could be saved tonight by the board.