Education Bond Measure
Includes Funds for Cal State Fullerton
October 30, 2006 :: No. 58
A $10.4 billion education bond measure Californians will
consider when they go to the polls Nov. 7 includes funds
for Cal State Fullerton.
Proposition 1D, the Kindergarten-University Public Education
Facilities Bond Act of 2006 would allocate $7.3 billion for
K-12 and $3.1 billion for higher education.
Voter approval of Proposition 1D would bring $14.9 million
to Cal State Fullerton for facilities that house academic
programs. About $6.6 million would be used to equip and furnish
Steven G. Mihaylo Hall, now under construction on the southeast
corner of campus; another $6.6 million is targeted to upgrade
or renovate aging facilities; and $1.7 million would fund
construction of a clinical and computing laboratory for nursing
inside the Kinesiology and Health Science Building.
Mihaylo Hall, the future home of the College of Business
and Economics, which serves nearly 7,500 students, will feature
dual-purpose and “smart” classrooms “that
will give faculty members access to all sorts of technology,
including computers, DVD players, video and audio equipment,” said
CBE Assistant Dean Joni Norby, whose responsibilities include
planning how the college will use the new building.
“We want to provide a world-class education for
business students, and to make that happen, the new building
must have the latest technology for the use of our students
and faculty members,” said Anil Puri, dean of
the college. Puri, who is also co-director of the college’s Institute
for Economic and Environmental Studies and last week presented the institute’s
latest Economic Forecast Report, outlined the fiscal impact of the bond’s
passage: 26,000 new jobs, $2.3 billion in wages and $2.3 billion of additional
economic activity for the region.
Presently,
faculty members and classes for the College of Business and Economics are scattered
among five campus buildings. When construction for Mihaylo Hall is complete,
its 230 faculty offices will make it possible to bring those from accounting,
business writing, economics, finance, information systems and decision sciences,
management and marketing together under one roof.
The faculty members will leave existing furnishings behind for the new occupants
of their current offices, while new desks, chairs and bookcases will be acquired
for Mihaylo Hall.
The new building also will be home to the college’s
12 “centers of excellence,” which focus on academic
research, as well as services for local businesses and the
community at large. Other segments of the new building are
student lounges and tutoring centers, plus an interactive
networking lab and professional sales lab, where students
in office settings will be able to videotape mock interviews
and presentations for broadcast into their classrooms for
analysis.
Improvements for and revitalization of existing buildings,
meanwhile, is the focus of $6.6 million in bond funding.
Heating, cooling, ventilation, electrical and plumbing systems
in need of restoration or replacement are planned, along
with improvements designed to boost energy efficiency and
utility savings and also meet state accessibility requirements.
If approved by voters, the bond also would finance construction
of a laboratory in the Kinesiology and Health Science Building
for the university’s expanding graduate programs in
nursing. Space for clinical practice, computing and faculty
offices is included in the $1.7 million targeted for the
new facility.
The bond measure, which requires a simple majority to pass,
would authorize the sale of statewide general obligation
bonds. Repayment of the bonds is guaranteed by the state
of California and would be completed over 30 years.
Various business, civic and education groups, including the
California Business Roundtable, California Chamber of Commerce,
California Federation of Teachers, California Labor Federation,
California School Boards Association, California Taxpayers’ Association,
California Teachers Association, Campaign for College Opportunity,
CSU Alumni Association, League of California Cities and Orange
County Business Council support Proposition 1D.
While there is no organized opposition at this time, some
have voiced concern about the cost of the bond for the state,
the variety of new programs funded and the fact that it funds
just two years of need.
Proponents argue that the bond measure is a fiscally responsible
way to finance school repair and construction, makes schools
earthquake safe, and it does not obligate the state beyond
what it can afford now. Additional information about
the bond, including arguments for and against the measure,
is available online at www.ss.ca.gov.
Previous bond measures have provided funding for both construction
and equipment for CSUF facilities.
In March 2004, Californians approved Proposition 55. The
measure provided $12.3 billion to schools throughout the
state, including more than $50 million to Cal State Fullerton.
The funds that CSUF received were used for two projects — construction
of Mihaylo Hall and outfitting the newly opened Performing
Arts Center. Mihaylo Hall construction began in June, and
completion is expected in 2008. When the 109,000-square-foot
Performing Arts Center opened in January, students and faculty
members welcomed the fully outfitted performance, rehearsal,
laboratory, studio and technical spaces.
Proposition 55 bond funds assisted in the purchase of stage
lighting and audio systems, classroom computer and specialized
equipment, scene shop power tools and related supplies, dance
studio sound and video systems, concert grand pianos and
percussion instruments and audio recording equipment.
“Without the equipment funds provided by Proposition 55, most of the
building would not have been usable,” said Jerry Samuelson, dean of the
College of the Arts. “The lighting, sound and specialized equipment acquired
with bond funds were necessary to complete this project.”
California voters also approved Proposition 47, the Kindergarten-University
Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2002. That measure
allocated $13 billion from the sale of general obligation
bonds to K-12 schools, colleges and universities, including
$17.4 million to Cal State Fullerton.
The greatest CSUF portion, $9.6 million, was used to enhance
campus safety — installation of new fire hydrants,
improved fire detection and alarm systems and an upgrade
of the emergency notification system. The newly installed
fire alarm system was tested Friday, and other upgrades are
continuing.
In addition, $6.7 million was earmarked for telecommunications
infrastructure upgrades, including the installation of 40
additional Code Blue emergency telephones throughout the
campus. The main project improved pathways, spaces and wiring
needed to enhance instructional delivery and university operations.
The campus also received $987,000 for the purchase of equipment
for the addition to the Kinesiology and Health Science Building.
Completed, in 2003, the addition features a wellness center
with classrooms and laboratories for the teaching of biomechanics,
physical assessment and motor behavior.
Media Contacts: |
Frances Teves, director, state relations and advocacy,
657-278-5188 or fteves@fullerton.edu
Paula
Selleck, Public Affairs, 657-278-4856 or pselleck@fullerton.edu
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