|
MEASURE NO. 24-240 Chemeketa Community College Argument in Favor I worked 27 years at Chemeketa Community College from 1974 to 2001. During those years I saw first-hand the dedication and commitment Chemeketa staff and faculty have for the students we served. People at Chemeketa truly care about students’ success, and go the extra mile to make sure that students get the help they need to achieve their dreams. As Chemeketa’s president, it was my job not only to oversee the educational programs for our students but also to administer the budget and ensure that the college facilities were safe, up-to-date and appropriate for college level instruction. I worked with a very dedicated group of staff, faculty and board members to make certain that the funds entrusted to us by the public were spent wisely, prudently and effectively. In 1996 college facilities were in dire need of repair and improvement. Enrollment had been growing steadily, and the instructional space we had at the Salem campus was woefully inadequate. We asked the voters to approve a bond measure, and we promised residents that the funds from those bonds would last for ten years. Chemeketa has kept that promise. Since the last bond measure, enrollment has grown by 31 percent, and predictions are that student growth will continue into the future. It is time again for major campus improvements to maintain and extend the useful life of existing buildings, to replace 35-year old moldy portable buildings, and to invest in new facilities to enhance educational and job-training opportunities for students across the district. We can trust Chemeketa Community College to keep its promise to invest resources wisely, to provide educational excellence in all of its programs - both college credit and vocational training-and to serve well the residents of its district. Please join me in again saying YES to Chemeketa Community College. It’s the best investment we can make in the future. Jerry Berger President Emeritus Chemeketa Community College Paid for by Jerry Berger (This information provided by Jerry Berger) Argument in Favor More than 57,000 students (one of every eight residents of the Mid-Willamette Valley) attended Chemeketa Community College last year. I am proud that I was one of them. As I head off to Western Oregon University this fall, I want you to know what an impact Chemeketa has had on me and my future. Chemeketa has given me the opportunity to grow academically, socially, and civically. It has provided me with an environment rich with culture through which I could earn an associate degree as an honors student in Phi Theta Kappa while developing the skills I needed to pursue better employment opportunities. Chemeketa’s classes challenged me to reach beyond the classroom and textbooks to explore the relationships between academics and the community. As students, we appreciated the facilities the college has built in the last decade. The library and technology buildings added to our learning experiences, and the Student Center gave us a place to participate in activities. However, despite the efforts of the maintenance staff, there are very old buildings that created a huge distraction for us. The portable classroom buildings are more than 30 years old and are very uncomfortable. I know many students who dreaded having a class scheduled in one of them. Unfortunately, Chemeketa has had to continue utilizing these old buildings to accommodate the growing number of students it serves. However, academics for the future of our community can be different. Now, with passage of the 2006 bond measure, the college can replace these buildings with modern facilities that meet the needs of 21st century students. I wish the new classrooms could have been there while I was at Chemeketa, but at least future students will appreciate what we have done today in making these new buildings possible for tomorrow. I urge all voters in the college district–and especially the students–to vote “Yes” for Chemeketa Community College in November. Terra Ashford Salem, Oregon (This information provided by Terra Ashford) Argument in Favor Chemeketa an Important Part of Success for Wachovia When Chemeketa Community College describes itself as a major player in workforce development in the Mid-Willamette Valley, there is a great deal of evidence to support that claim. Wachovia would not have had the success it has enjoyed in Oregon if it had not been for Chemeketa. In 2004 our company sent a team to scout several possible locations for a major customer service center on the West Coast. In Salem, the team found a receptive city government, a welcoming business community, and a ready pool of talented employees. Additionally, we were extremely delighted with the enthusiasm and expertise we found at Chemeketa. The college promised and later delivered–assistance in helping train our newest teammates. It even arranged for temporary spaces for Wachovia staff while our permanent offices were built. One of our executives used the term “crown jewel of Salem” to describe Chemeketa. That only gives some small indication of the value Chemeketa has had for us. Having visited the college campus many times, I know that Chemeketa has done a tremendous job caring for the buildings in which taxpayers have invested their money. Many classroom buildings have been used successfully long after what should have been their useful life. Now those buildings have become worn out, and it’s time for their replacement. The community should reinvest in the college so it can continue to meet students’ needs in the 21st Century. Taxpayers receive a 20 percent return on their investment in Chemeketa Community College each year. That is excellent performance, and I think Chemeketa merits our support as the college seeks bond funds to replace deteriorating classroom buildings and protect the investment that taxpayers have made in the college over the last 36 years. I urge Marion County to vote “Yes” for Chemeketa Community College. Paul Bajus, Senior Vice President Wachovia Corp. Salem, Oregon
(This information provided by Paul Bajus) Argument in Favor Having developed many residential and commercial properties in my career, I pay attention to investments and return on investment. That is one reason why I support the bond levy for Chemeketa Community College this year. Chemeketa’s people have worked hard to protect the investment we taxpayers have made in college facilities. Somehow the college was able to get 35 years of use out of modular classroom buildings that were old when I was a Chemeketa student in the 1970s. Beside replacement classrooms, the college plans to add classrooms and labs for high-demand programs such as nursing and other health-care careers and advanced manufacturing technology. There is great need for workers in these fields, and Chemeketa is leading the way in training students to fill that need. When we passed a bond in 1996, the college promised it would not ask for more capital funds for 10 years, and Chemeketa kept that promise. I respect that. From personal experience, I know that my days as a Chemeketa student were a great investment for me. Research now shows that students get a 19 percent annual return on their investment of time and money, and taxpayers get a 20 percent return on their investment of tax dollars in Chemeketa. That tells me that Chemeketa is well run and that it deserves our support as it prepares the campus to meet the needs of 21st century students. If we approve this bond levy, the cost to taxpayers will actually go down 7 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. That shows excellent financial management at Chemeketa. We can be proud of the excellent leadership of Gretchen Schuette and her team. I encourage voters to approve the 2006 bond levy and vote “yes” for Chemeketa Community College. Lee Sjothun Keizer, Oregon (This information provided by Lee Sjothun) The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Marion County nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument. Marion County does not correct errors in spelling or grammar. Return Back to Measure Ballot Title
|