The Shasta College Board of Trustees has approved a $139 million College Job Training / Veteran Support general obligation bond measure. Measure H, to be placed on the November ballot in the six counties served by the college (Shasta, Tehama, Trinity, Lassen, Humboldt and Modoc), will allow for increased job training through the building of a Regional Public Safety Training Facility for fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical personnel; create a new Veterans Support Center to assist current military personnel and Veterans; construct a new Career Technical Education facility to provide students with needed training in Advanced Manufacturing, Welding, Automotive and Computer Science; and update the college’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) labs.
“In connecting with community members including students, teachers, Veterans, business owners, and public agencies, we have heard time and again that the strength of our region is directly related to the educational opportunities available in our community,” said Shasta College Superintendent/President Dr. Joe Wyse. “If approved by the voters, Measure H will allow Shasta College to provide the facilities needed for the state-of-the-art education and training our students must have to obtain living wage jobs and transfer to four-year colleges and universities in their pursuit of higher education, particularly in the STEM fields.”
In addition to building new facilities, funds from Measure H will allow for technology upgrades throughout the college’s large district, including the extension campuses in Red Bluff, Burney, and Weaverville. It will also provide for the modernization of the nearly 50-year old classrooms at its main campus. Over the long term, Measure H funds will allow for the expansion of facilities as demand grows. Especially noteworthy is the planned addition of one or two buildings at the Tehama Campus, with additional Veterans support services in that location.
Accountability requirements built into the bond proposal include the formation of a Citizens’ Oversight Committee to ensure the bond proceeds are spent appropriately; the prohibition of paying salaries, pensions or other operating expenses with bond funds; annual performance and financial audits; and that all money will stay local and cannot be taken by the State of California.
Said Dr. Joe Wyse, “The college has demonstrated its sound and prudent fiscal management by not only spending the 2002 General Obligation bond funds in the appropriate manner, but by initiating bond refundings in 2012 and 2014 that resulted in over $2.75 million in saved interest for taxpayers. Our continued focus on solid financial management and decision making has resulted in the community having confidence in our ability to achieve the purposes outlined in our Measure H bond proposal, and in many cases surpass them.”
“The time has come for Shasta College to position itself as the premier educational facility in Northern California by focusing on educating the key talent needed to strengthen our local economy. The inclusion of a Public Safety Training Center in the bond will result in a network of individuals trained to handle emergencies of all kinds, effecting a safer environment for all. We have served our students and the community for the past 50 years, and look forward to improving the quality of our communities through education for the next 50 years.”
For further information, please contact Mr. Morris Rodrigue, Vice President of Administrative Services, at 530-242-7525.