Bond Vote Mulled in Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Saying the state’s community colleges are facing the “worst fiscal crisis in our history,” leaders of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District may bypass Sacramento and go straight to local voters for help.

The college district is considering asking East County voters to approve a bond measure in November, officials said Thursday.

A statement didn’t specify a dollar amount. But in 2002, voters approved a $207 million bond issue for the district as 60.2 percent agreed to a higher property tax assessment.

A new facilities master plan identifying needs at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges was presented at a community forum Thursday in El Cajon, which led to the bond idea.

District Chancellor Cindy Miles of La Mesa hosted the forum attended by 75 people, including elected officials, school and university administrators, business leaders, public agency representatives and community members.

Officials of the 30,000-student district say Grossmont College, built 50 years ago, still has classrooms and other buildings constructed then that have outlived their usefulness and are badly in need of repairs.

Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego opened in 1978, and many of its roads, mechanical systems and fixtures are no longer adequate to serve the campus and its students, officials say.

Ten years ago, East County voters approved Proposition R. Coupled with state bond monies, it enabled the colleges to build 13 new and refurbished facilities at the sister campuses.

The facilities master plan discussed Thursday showed that many facility improvements are still needed at both campuses to better serve students and prepare them for the workforce, update technology, increase services to veterans, and make the campuses more energy-efficient, said the district.

The draft facilities plan was presented by Deborah Shepley of HMC Architects, which prepared the plan with input from the colleges and district. A final plan is set to go before the governing board for formal approval in September.

At Grossmont College, the plan recommends replacing the many aging modular buildings placed at the campus more than 30 years ago as temporary classroom sites, as well as providing instructional, lab and performance spaces. 

“Deteriorating and inadequate classroom buildings at Cuyamaca College that are now 34 years old would be replaced, along with infrastructure improvements to conserve energy and to reduce operational costs,” said the district in a news release.

“An updated technology system to keep pace with digital advances is a key need for the college district. Better computer systems are vital as more students turn to online classes as part of their education, and replacing an antiquated technology system will allow the district to operate more efficiently.”

Bonnie Moss, a consultant with Clifford Moss LLC working with the college district on the feasibility of a bond measure, said polls show that East County voters hold the colleges in high regard.

Voters indicated strong support for workforce training, veterans’ services, and installing energy-saving measures so that more monies could be directed to classrooms, she said.

“Our research shows that this community understands the district is the engine for workforce training and affordable transfer to universities,” Moss said.

The district says it had experienced three years of state funding cuts totaling more than $35 million. And if the governor’s tax measure falls short in the November election, the district stands to lose an additional $5.6 million, said Chancellor Miles. 

Miles said the district must remain forward-thinking even when the district is facing funding cuts and is forced to turn away students.

“Despite tough times, we still need to plan for the future,” she said. “It can take up to 10 years from conception to completion and that’s why we are taking the long view in our planning and identifying the needs of the East County.”