“Investing in The Future”
By Gloria Saldivar
In 2004 Taft College was granted District A Measure of $39,800,000. The District A Measure is a general obligation bond intended to enhance and create new facilities that will benefit our campus. When all the construction is completed, Taft College will have a new “Master Plan.”
The following “Measure A” projects have been completed as of June 30, 2013:
· Campus Landscape/courtyard
· Campus Parking maintenance phase 1
· Child Development center phase 2
· Community Technical center (RFE)
· Land Acquisition phase 1&2
· Main plan development
· Maintenance & Operations facility
· Science modernization
· Swing Space phase 1 &2
· Utility Infrastructure Phase 1&2
· Center of Independent Living.
The Citizens Oversight Committee is in charge of overseeing the entire construction project. They “review the budget and construction project performance analysis reports presented by AP Architects.” The committee also takes tours of the ongoing construction to observe the progression of the construction.
The construction on campus has not been troubling of any kind. The campus has truly come a long way since it was first established in August 30, 1922. Believe it or not but our campus is only of few other community colleges to have on-campus housing. Speaking of on-campus housing; the dorms on campus are to go under modernization. That right, Taft College has set aside $1,950,350.00 for dorm modernization.
Students can also look forward to a new Student Union which Taft College has set aside $11,038,319.00 to build it. The new student union will have everything a student desires on campus. Well, everything a student needs on campus. The student union will have one of the most important things on campus to a student; the cafeteria. Students will no longer have to make the decision of staying in the cafeteria to eat, or walking the long journey to the student union to eat and relax in a student filled environment.
Student also won’t have to travel the long journey across the street to the bookstore anymore because it will be located in the student union. The student union will definitely be the place to be on campus.
Taft College is only expanding at this point. It will continue to grow and thrive on good education for the benefit of students.