Texarkana College's Board of Trustees approved taking $10 million in maintenance tax notes during its regular meeting Monday.
TC President Dr. Jason Smith said the funds will be used for campus improvements, including renovation of the college's science, technology, engineering and math facilities.
"When you look at some of TC's aging instructional spaces, they do not reflect the need of today's educational requirements," he said. "Several aged (heat and air systems) still remain in place that are decades beyond their useful life and there are areas throughout campus that area still not compliant with ADA regulations. The needed capital improvements are costly, but they are necessary to accomplish the college's strategic goal of enhancing, upgrading and renovating facilities to meet state and federal ADA compliance standards and modernize instructional space."
He said the renovations are a cost-savings move compared to the option of constructing new buildings.
"By remodeling existing buildings, projects can be accomplished for a more conservative cost averaging 20-25 percent less than building new structures," he said. "However, even with the consideration of every cost-savings measure, the financial investment needed for this project is expected to be $15 million and this is outside of what the normal budget can handle."
Additional work will be done on the college's parking lots along with heating and air system upgrades. The tax notes, which are from Farmer's Bank, will be repaid over the next 20 years through a combination of unencumbered general fund reserves and tax revenue.
"It is our goal to repay the notes with minimal impact on our taxpayers," Smith said. "It is a top priority to keep Texarkana College's total tax rate 20 percent below the state average and one of the lowest among all East Texas colleges."
In other business, Texarkana College trustees on Monday approved a new associate of applied science degree in pharmacy technology, expanding the offerings in its Health Sciences division.
The program provides training to students seeking entry into a career in pharmaceuticals and builds a skilled workforce to meet local employer needs for more certified pharmacy technicians, TC officials said.
Courtney Shoalmire, Health Sciences dean, said workforce projections indicate the demand for certified pharmacy technicians will increase by more than 25 percent in the next five years.
"Students who successfully complete the degree program will have a competitive advantage in landing a job in a local pharmacy setting," Shoalmire said. "Several local pharmacists and the healthcare providers serve on the program's advisory board and have helped customize the curriculum according the regional workforce needs. There is a growing demand for skilled workers in this field, and TC is helping fill the void through this program."
Pharmacy Technology instructor Tammy Cochran said students can complete the entire program in two years, but will be prepared to enter the workforce after the second semester.
"The two-year degree is structured so that students will complete a Level 2 certificate after the first year, and will be prepared to take their credentialing exam at the end of the spring semester," said Cochran. "Students can begin working immediately after earning their certification and continue with the program while earning income. The second year of the program hones in on skills local employers have identified as necessary to thrive in the fast-paced, detailed work environment, including communication, math and leadership training."
The new degree program is fully fundable through the federal Pell Grant program for students who qualify for federal financial aid. TC currently offers courses to complete a Level 2 certificate in Pharmacy Technology and interested students can begin the first half of the degree this summer. The new associate degree program will begin in the fall.
-