University's projects ride on Prop 1A

by Tom Uribes

More than a handful of Fresno State faculty, staff and administrators will be up late for the election returns tomorrow night, learning how California voters marked their ballots on Proposition 1A.

Passage of 1A, the Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 1998, would authorize the sale of $9.2 billion in state bonds to provide funds for educational facilities at all levels. Of that amount, $2.5 billion would be allocated for higher education. The CSU system would receive an estimated $832 million over the next four years.

At Fresno State, the fate of a new academic building - Science II - is riding on the measure. The bond would provide about $18 million for the building's construction.

Dean K. P. Wong (School of Natural Sciences) explained how the building would be a giant step toward the science complex that his school hopes to develop on the north side of San Ramon Ave. "We've already broken ground for the first building - the Downing Planetarium. Science II would be the next major building. The university could eventually have a $90 million complex that will serve the entire Central California Valley."

Wong said that Science II would be a "space replacement building for the San Ramons," but that the success of Prop 1A and the eventual construction of the classroom/office building "would also make it easier for us to raise money for a major museum and science education resource center." The center could eventually include an underground viewing pond and I-MAX theatre, as well as facilities for "science partners" like the State Crime Lab, he said.

Science II is among more than 20 major CSU projects riding on Prop 1A; the construction, renovation and seismic upgrade projects involve campuses from San Diego State to Humboldt State.

Dr. Robert Perez, Fresno State criminology professor and an attorney, stressed the fact that the Legislature has focused this proposition on facilities.

"Not a dime can go to salaries or new programs .... We're talking about hard capital assets," he said.

Across the state, authorities explain that all proceeds of the measure must be used for capital outlay projects - to build schools, reduce classroom overcrowding, repair failing buildings, construct laboratories, address earthquake safety, and wire schools and campuses for technology.

Among the other Fresno State facilities affected by passage of the measure would be McLane Hall, the university's 43-year-old classroom and laboratory building, which is currently undergoing renovation. Passage of Prop 1A would provide an additional $606,000 to complete the classroom and laboratory updates and to provide equipment and technology upgrades for the Physics, Biology, Physical Therapy, Health Sciences and Nursing departments.

University Vice President Ben Quillian explained that technology improvements for the entire campus are riding on Prop 1A.

"Our campus could expect several million dollars to strengthen our technology infra-structure," he said.

In Long Beach, Tom West, assistant vice chancellor for information resources and technology, said the $168 million that Prop 1A will provide for the CSU system's technology infrastructure "is going to enable our students, faculty and staff to carry out their roles more effectively, whether a learner, a teacher/scholar, or a staff support person for the campus."

West noted that Fresno State President John D. Welty will chair the system's new Commission for Technology Infrastructure, which will oversee the implementation of technology plans that have been in progress for some time.

"The commission meets on Nov. 18," West said. "We are proceeding; we're optimistic."

The CSU system's Board of Trustees endorsed the kindergarten-university bond act at its September meeting, and CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed, said, "This bond is absolutely essential to maintaining and improving the quality of education in California."

Dr. David H. Provost, Fresno State professor of political science, stressed the importance of Prop 1A to K-12 education and to solving the problems of overcrowding in Valley schools.

"We need 22 new classrooms a day just to keep up with the school-age population," Provost said. "We all know that crowded classrooms do not help in the education process."

Besides providing new facilities, passage of Prop 1A will help repair existing public schools - "drinking fountains that don't work . . . and leaking roofs," Provost said.

Also of interest to Valley voters is the kick-start that passage of Prop 1A would provide for the Valley's long-awaited UC campus. According to Ron Goble, interim media relations officer for UC Merced, "Approximately $55 million would be available to provide the initial capital fund for the development of the new campus."

Goble said, "The first funds for the design and construction of infrastructure projects will be needed in about 2000-2001 ... the third year that funding from Proposition 1A would be available."

Goble said those initial funds would provide such things as site grading, roads, and utilities. "The central plant facilities would follow [after the years of Prop 1A]," he said. The UC estimates that more than $400 million will be required over the next 12 years for core facilities at the 10th UC campus.

The last statewide bond act was passed in 1996. The group Yes on 1A for California Schools said, "That bond was much smaller, and all the money was allocated . . . by mid-1997."

Dr. Chandra Brahma, engineering professor and spokesman for the California Faculty Association, said, "The CFA supports quality affordable and accessible higher education, so we support Proposition 1A totally ... for all Californians."

Carol DeVine, chair of the Joint Labor Council, described "a second baby boom generation headed for California schools in the next decade."

"Our schools and universities need to be ready to meet that challenge," she said. DeVine believes that "every dollar spent on this bond issue will be returned to our community many times."

Perez said, "The way our technology is advancing, we need to stay up with the changes so that we can provide quality education for students who are ready to join the 21st century. It's our obligation to provide individuals who are competent and ready to compete."

He termed Prop 1A "very important to us here in the Valley."