NEWS

$400k new funding for classroom updates

Board of trustees and college officials listen to the 2018-19 budget proposal. Lily Merritt | Washtenaw Voice

Campuswide renovations possible over next five years

By Nicholas Ketchum
Deputy Editor

The board of trustees got its first look at Washtenaw Community College’s proposed 2018-19 budget, which includes increased funding for classroom renovations, alongside other proposed campus upgrades.

William Johnson, vice president and chief financial officer at the college, presented the proposal at the board’s most recent public meeting on April 23 at the Morris Lawrence building.

If approved, the budget would add an additional $400,000 to the $200,000 already in the classroom renovation fund.

“We now have established, if the board approves it, a classroom renovation fund to the tune of about $600,000 a year, to be able to go after—over a number of years—the renovation and the re-envisioning of each of our classrooms,” Johnson said.

Although specific pieces of infrastructure, such as a building’s heating system or a parking lot, have recently seen upgrades, classrooms as a whole have not been upgraded en-masse. The proposed renovations would change that.

“We know that’s the next big thing that we need to do. We have a master plan for maintaining the broader building systems, but what about our classrooms?” Johnson said.

According to Johnson, renovations would likely occur over a five year period, or on a similar timeline.

With strong local property tax receipts translating into strong revenue for the college, other high-visibility improvements are planned.

Banner, which is WCC’s digital enterprise resource planning system, will be undergoing a “major upgrade,” according to Johnson.

He said the budget proposal also includes upgrades to a variety of other campus infrastructure and services.

“We have some network improvements to improve our connectivity—wireless, for instance—would be one of those things. And we’ve got some extra money we’re putting towards public safety,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the college relies on its overall strategic goals, which are approved by the board of trustees, to determine budget priorities and planning.

“Everything we do is tied to the strategic goals of the college. It starts with those goals,” Johnson said.