Students, Campuses Need Construction Funds Now

The clock is ticking toward an Aug. 27 deadline as the Legislature and the governor continue to wrestle with policy disagreements that have so far prevented them from placing a school construction bond measure on the November election ballot. Reaching consensus on the various policy issues is important. However, Californians would be ill-served if voters are deprived of the opportunity to approve the school bond measure in November.

Most of the bond funds as currently proposed--some $6.5 billion--would go to kindergarten-12 education. The remaining $2.5 billion would be evenly divided among California Community Colleges, California State University and University of California. This is money that is sorely needed for higher education.

The money would be used for:

* Earthquake safety retrofitting. On campuses throughout the state, buildings that house thousands of students, faculty and staff are rated seismically “poor” or “very poor.” UC Berkeley alone needs $700 million over the next five to 10 years to bring it up to current standards.

* More space. Children of baby boomers began showing up on college and university campuses in 1993, and the trend is expected to continue through 2005. By then, the capacity of existing campuses will fall 295,000 short of demand, according to the California Postsecondary Education Commission.

* Technological upgrading. Whether it is high-speed computers, fiber optics or Bunsen burners, public higher education must invest in what is needed to produce the kinds of graduates who will lead California and the nation toward new discoveries.

* Repairs and renovations. Students and teachers in California’s public colleges and universities are contending with leaky roofs, nonfunctioning heating and air conditioning and ramshackle plumbing. Funding from the bonds would give campuses a start toward reducing their long lists of needed repairs.

If the bond measure is not placed on the November ballot, tens of thousands of students will spend their college years in in buildings that are not earthquake safe, need basic repairs or are ill-equipped to give them the education they need.