RCC leaders turn focus to 'Plan B'
By Kathi Keys
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
ASHEBORO - Randolph Community College officials are hoping "Plan
B" will start addressing the need for more classroom space since funding
for future capital projects is not forthcoming until at least 2010.
"Plan B" is how Jim Campbell, vice chairman of the RCC Board
of Trustees, described the alternative route for providing more classroom
space during Thursday night's board meeting.
The plan is a request to the Randolph County Board of Commissioners to
provide an additional $300,000 in capital outlay for the next five years
so RCC can proceed with renovation of existing space.
"We're all aware there will not be a bond referendum," RCC
President Dr. Richard Heckman said about the Randolph County Board of Commissioners'
Jan. 3 vote rescinding its September 2004 decision to proceed with a $43
million school bond referendum this spring.
The referendum, if approved by county voters, would have provided RCC
with $9 million for capital projects in a measure separate from requests
from Asheboro City and Randolph County school systems.
Instead, the commissioners decided to prioritize the projects, from a
countywide perspective, and provide funds for two new county high schools
(in the northeastern section and Archdale-Trinity) through the Certificates
of Participation (COPS) method from 2006-10.
RCC and city school funding requests were identified as the third priority
for funding starting in 2010, unless financing opportunities change prior
to that time.
"It's hard to argue with the data and the number of mobile units,"
Heckman acknowledged. "It's hard to argue against what are the priorities."
"This is the best plan we could come up with today," County
Commissioner Robert Davis, also a member of the RCC board, said of the county
board's decision. "It may change."
Heckman said the $300,000 annual increase in capital outlay request has
been made both verbally and in writing to the commissioners.
"This would allow us to do major renovation in existing space,"
he said. "That's our approach. That's our tact. We'll wait and see
if it's in the budget."
However, Heckman also noted that a possible five-year delay in proceeding
with its two top priority construction projects at the Asheboro Campus will
affect expanding programs.
Those projects include a Health and Science Center addition for more
classrooms, labs to serve the fast-growing health occupations programs and
a new Industrial and Skilled Trades Center to provide training in those
fields.
The RCC board also received an update on the $1.5 million Archdale Campus
addition which provides more classroom space at that location and is being
funded through the N.C. Higher Education Bonds approved in 2000.
Joe Snell IV, RCC vice president for administrative services, said all
the paperwork is being finalized for the project to start "hopefully
in February."
The contract has been awarded to Jarrell Contractors, which has a 300-day
completion schedule so the new addition can be used beginning in January
2006.
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