Voter Guide 2001: Community colleges seek bonds for renewal Voter Guide 2001: Community colleges seek bonds for renewal (October 24, 2001)

By Marjorie Mader
Almanac Staff Writer

Driving up to Canada College in Woodside, one is impressed by the appearance of the well-designed buildings and grounds on the 131- acre hillside campus.

But walk inside these buildings, and it's a different story, says Rosa Perez, Canada College president. Two biology labs, for example, are in such poor condition that they can't be used for instruction.

Facilities at Canada College reflect a lack of funds for maintenance, upgrades and new buildings. It's a similar picture at the two other community colleges in San Mateo County: College of San Mateo in San Mateo and Skyline College in San Bruno.

State funds to renew and update facilities has been practically nonexistent for 15 years.

"The state hasn't been there for us," said Ron Galatolo, chancellor- superintendent of the community college district. "We need upgraded facilities and equipment that will allow the faculty to be the best teachers they can be and facilities that are conducive to effective teaching and learning."

The college district expects a surge of students in the next few years, especially if the economy falters.

Passage of Measure C would cost homeowners an estimated $7.14 a year for each $100,000 of assessed valuation, not the market value. The average assessed value of a home in the district is $300,000.

The $207 million bond issue would pay to upgrade science and computer labs; repair classrooms and buildings; improve vocational and technical facilities; replace electrical wiring; update bathroom plumbing; and make buildings and classrooms handicapped-accessible. Student and teacher safety would be improved by fire and earthquake retrofits.

Measure C would help fund the University Center at Canada College, an in-progress partnership between the community college district and San Francisco State University, and possibly other universities, offering four- year degrees in electrical engineering, teaching and other disciplines.

University Center, the first of its kind at a state community college, enables students in San Mateo County to get a four-year college degree without leaving the area and at a cost of only $11 per semester unit.

With the passage of Measure C, each community college would gain a few new facilities. At Canada, it would be a library/learning center and student support services extension.

A regional public safety center is on the drawing board for College of San Mateo, and an occupational and workforce development center is proposed for Skyline College.

Chancellor Galatolo said the district launched an initiative in 2000 to update the district's master plan of 1997 and look at the "underpinnings" for each college. The recommendations from an energy consultant, mechanical engineer and architectural firm were used to update the plan and, ultimately, led to developing the long list of bond fund projects on the November 6 ballot.

About the same time, voters adopted Proposition 39, which allows school bond measure to pass with 55 percent voter approval, instead of two- thirds.

In November 1999 a previous community college bond issue for $148 million failed to reach the two-thirds threshold by less than 1 percentage point.

Chancellor Galatolo said a community survey showed that residents particularly liked the idea of the University Center at Canada College, continuing to train police at the Academy at College of San Mateo, and training firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other safety personnel in the county at a proposed regional public safety center at CSM.

The campaign for Measure C may seem low-key, but that's partly because of the size of the district: It encompasses the entire county, where there are about 750,000 voters. Some 2,000 signs urging voters to support the measure "disappear" quickly when they're dispersed throughout the district, says Chancellor Galatolo.

Formal opposition to Measure C is led by John J. "Jack" Hickey of Redwood City, chair of the Libertarian Party of San Mateo County and also a candidate for the community college board.

Signing the ballot argument in favor of the bond measure were: Anna G. Eshoo, congresswoman; Jerry Hill, San Mateo County supervisor; Kathleen Tyson, president of the League of Women Voters, Central San Mateo; Tom Huening, county controller; and state Sen. Jackie Speier.