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College board puts $564M measure on ballot

by Leslie Shen

A measure that would raise $564 million for community college facilities will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The money would be spent on facilities at three community colleges in the San Mateo County Community College District, including Canada College in Woodside.

The district's Board of Directors passed a resolution Aug. 10 to put the measure on the ballot.

To pass, the measure must be approved by 55 percent of the voters.

The other colleges in the district are the College of San Mateo and Skyline College.

Projects that would be financed include modernization of buildings for earthquake and fire safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility for people with disabilities. Technology upgrades would be made to libraries, math and science classrooms, research labs, and campus security systems.

Among the goals, according to a district report, is to "prepare students for high-demand 21st century jobs."

Bond sales would generate funds where other sources have fallen short, said Barbara Christensen, director of community and government relations for the district. "There was a lot of discussion about state funding," she said of the Aug. 10 board meeting in San Mateo. "Over the past few years we've lost almost $200 million that were promised to us."