Bond measures pass, new trustees elected
For faculty, staff and students at more than a dozen community colleges around the state, November's elections brought good news - the knowledge that facilities on their campuses will at last be enhanced, rebuilt and repaired.
"It's great news that our campuses will start to get the attention they need," said CCA President Dián Dolores Hasson. "The voters came through this time when they approved Prop. 47 by a 58.9 percent vote. I think the message is getting through that our school facilities must be upgraded for the 21st century."
As a result of the passage of Prop. 47, the statewide schools facilities bond, California's community colleges will receive $746 million to relieve overcrowding, make safety repairs and upgrade and renovate campus buildings. Prop. 47 is just the beginning. It is the first half of the state's plan to address the critical school facility needs facing our students. A second bond measure, "Son of Prop. 47," is being planned for 2004.
Vote of confidence
"The voters of California have, both locally and statewide, given us a vote of confidence. They have gone to the ballot box and have said they're willing to invest in education, particularly the community colleges. In these very hard times, we have to feel heartened," Chancellor Tom Nussbaum said.
In all, 14 community colleges successfully ran local bond measures to receive matching funds from the Prop. 47 funds. Both Nussbaum and Hasson credited the work of faculty and staff around the state who made financial contributions, staffed phone banks, and got out the vote on Election Day. The $500 million raised in local community college bond elections exceeded the $188,000 that was raised to help pass Prop. 1A in 1998, the previous bond.
As a result of the election success, campuses like Merced College will renovate several out-of-date buildings, construct a new library and Allied Health building, upgrade its agricultural facilities and complete other construction projects. The district will also be able to begin building a permanent facility in Los Banos after years of housing the campus in portable classrooms.
Hartnell College will receive $131 million over the next dozen years to upgrade its campus.
"We've never had a bond measure before," said Hartnell College Faculty Association President David Beymer. "This will change the face of our campus."
Napa Valley College will gain $133.8 million to build a fine and performing arts center, upgrade and expand classrooms, upgrade college computer systems and address urgent maintenance needs.
"We're thrilled. We really took it as a vote of confidence in the college," said Denise Rosselli, president of the Napa Valley College Faculty Association, which heavily campaigned for the issue.
Proposition 47 was not the only election matter in which CCA chapters were involved, however. Many faculty mobilized around electing pro-education trustees to their boards.
The Solano College Faculty Association, for example, is hoping to change the composition of its board with the addition of two new, faculty-supported trustees, Gerie Bledsoe and Phil McCaffrey.
"Our political advisory committee has worked diligently since the fall of 2001 seeking candidates," said Esther Pryor, association president. "We did a lot of work, a lot of talking, a lot of campaigning and we were able to get two out of the three we recommended," she said, noting that the association also received campaign funding from CTA's political action committee.