Questions & Answers About Classroom and Education Needs for
San Joaquin Delta Community College and its Education Centers

Q. Why consider a Bond Measure now?
A. Many of San Joaquin Delta College buildings and classrooms are 30 years old – and are now outdated and need significant ....upgrades and improvements to meet the needs of today’s students. It is less expensive to make these repairs now, than in the ....future.

With the state fiscal crisis, the University of California and California State systems have only become more expensive – so more and more local families and students are relying on San Joaquin Delta College for its job training programs and preparation for four year colleges.

Our population will only continue to grow, making it essential that we keep pace in addressing the current needs of students and future enrollment growth.

Q. What are the projects you are considering?
A. Our most urgent projects include:

Repairing drainage systems, leaky roofs, and decaying walls
Installing and repairing fire safety alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers, emergency lighting, and safety doors
Removing asbestos and other hazardous materials
Upgrading and expanding classrooms, labs, and lecture halls
Wiring classrooms and buildings for computer technology
Repairing outdated plumbing and ventilation
Improving existing centers, and establishing new education centers in local communities throughout our District.

Q. Are these needs simply ongoing maintenance issues?
A. NO. Over the years, we’ve worked diligently to properly maintain our classrooms and buildings, with the resources available. However, renovations to 30-year old buildings are simply too extensive to address through ongoing maintenance alone. Many of our classrooms, for example, were built before the current “computer age.”

Q. Isn’t any other type of funding available?
A. No. Community colleges have historically been under-funded in the State of California. All community colleges, including San Joaquin Delta College, have faced ongoing cutbacks due to the state budget crisis.

Q. I don’t know anyone who attends San Joaquin Delta College or any of its Education Centers. How would any bond measure help me?
A. Ensuring that San Joaquin Delta College and its programs remain accessible to our growing population, as well as meeting the needs of current students, benefits residents throughout the region.

In this difficult economy, our College becomes more important than ever as a resource for local residents who want to expand their job skills to compete in a difficult job market.

San Joaquin Delta College graduates are trained in a variety of programs, including Fire and Public Safety, Nursing and Health, and Agriculture. Many of these graduates stay in our region to keep our communities healthy and safe, and contribute to important local economies, such as agriculture.

Q. How will you decide what projects to include in your final plan?
A. We have engaged in an extensive planning period, which was initiated nearly three years ago.

More recently, we have conducted a number of campus and community forums to hear directly from faculty, students, and the residents we serve. All of this input has been extremely valuable, and was considered as we developed our final plan.

Q. How do we know any bond proceeds will be spent properly?
A. By law, money from any proposed bond can only be spent on buildings, classrooms, or instructional equipment. Once a bond is successfully passed, an independent Citizens Oversight Committee must monitor all funds to ensure they are spent properly. No money will go to administrators’ salaries.