No final decision has been made so far, but college officials say they will be hard-pressed not to reduce the class offerings at the Coastside branch,

“We’re in a really tough spot,” said Mike Claire, president of the College of San Mateo. “We’re committed to offering some education on the Coastside, but just like everywhere else, we have to make cuts.”

Located at the Shoreline Station in Half Moon Bay, the Coastside branch of the junior college has been open barely more than a year. Since its start on the coast, the College of San Mateo and its parent district, the San Mateo County Community College District, have suffered some harrowing setbacks, including a $25 million loss from the collapse of Lehman Brothers investment house and a 10-percent cut under the this year’s state budget.

Claire said those hits meant the community college district would have to search for all possible cuts as it determines its budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

The college district board of trustees is expected to decide on how to cut the Coastside College of San Mateo during its January meeting.