Whereas, Proposition 55, the Kindergarten-University Public
Education Facilities Bond Act of 2004, provides $12.3 billion in bonds to
relieve overcrowding, reduce class size and repair and upgrade California’s
elementary, middle and high schools, community colleges and universities;
and
Whereas, the 2004 Statewide School Bond measure is the second
half of a two-part statewide education bond package to repair, upgrade and
build new school facilities, and the first half of which, Proposition 47,
was overwhelmingly approved by California voters in 2002, and passage of the
second half of the package is equally important to improve student achievement
and better prepare students for the modern workforce; and
Whereas, California schools and colleges are severely overcrowded,
with more than 700,000 new students expected to seek enrollment at a California
college or university by 2010; and
Whereas, the California Postsecondary Education Commission
estimates the state will need to spend approximately $1.5 billion per year
through 2010 to maintain existing higher education facilities and to provide
for expected enrollment increases, Proposition 55 will provide $1.15 billion
a year for higher education for two years, including $920 million for Community
Colleges, $690 million for the California State University, and $690 million
for the University of California; and
Whereas, Sonoma State University received $26 million from
the passage of Proposition 47 to renovate Darwin Hall and will receive an
additional $3 million from Proposition 55 for scientific equipment that will
complete the renovation project; and
Whereas, Prop. 55 will allow our public colleges and universities
to make seismic and other safety improvements to older buildings as well as
build new labs, classrooms and research facilities; and
Whereas, Prop. 55 will give students more access to the technology
and computers they need to meet academic standards and compete in the modern
workforce; and
Whereas, the 2004 Statewide School Bond provides a much needed
boost to our state’s economy, and putting Californians to work building
a better learning environment for our children is a wise investment in these
difficult economic times; and
Whereas, the 2004 Statewide School Bond funds must be spent
on school construction, not on overhead, and projects must comply with strict
accountability requirements, including mandatory audits, to safeguard against
waste and mismanagement,
Therefore be it resolved, that the Academic Senate of Sonoma
State University supports Proposition 55 - the Kindergarten-University Public
Education Facilities Bond Act of 2004.
Unanimous Approval by the Senate on 2/5/04
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