PCC sends voters $374 million bond

Board approves 20-year funding proposal for November ballot

By Ray Pitz

LocalNewsDaily.com, Mar 20, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (31 Reader comments)

Portland Community College’s Sylvania Campus could see the construction of a $2 million childcare facility along with extensive building renovation work and expanded programs if a proposed 20-year bond measure passes in November.

Last Thursday, the Portland Community College’s Board agreed to ask voters if they are willing to approve a $374 million bond measure, much of it earmarked for building renovations and program expansions throughout the district’s three primary campuses and its Southeast Center.

Also included in the bond would be an expansion of the district into Yamhill County and a new facility to be built just off the light rail line in Washington County.

Officials estimate the cost of the bond at 35.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value or about $100 per year for the average home in the PCC district.

Linda Gerber, PCC Sylvania Campus president, said if the bond passes, Sylvania would move ahead with plans to build a childcare facility somewhere on campus.

“We have the only early childhood education program among the PCC campuses,” she said.

Preliminary plans call for a 9,500-square-foot structure but the size is subject to change, she said.

Although no building construction has been finalized, plans are to have the childcare building up and running by 2012.

The PCC Sylvania Campus, the oldest in the community college district, has both an early childhood education program and a childhood development center that students in the program use as a lab.

“It serves the community as well as our students and staff,” she said.

The need for a new childcare center also involves security concerns in light of recent “active shooter” situations found on campuses in other parts of the country. To drive the point home, Gerber said the current building recently had a report of someone who was believed to be carrying a gun. The center was locked down but Gerber said there is a great need to create a more secure facility.

The exact location of a new structure is still up in the air but Gerber said there are only a handful of sites where the building, which will include a small playground, could be built.

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