Community college system
moves forward with improvements

By Sheena Dooley | Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Reprinted from the Quad City Times

In hopes of stretching its dollar further, leaders of the Eastern Iowa Community College District are wasting no time making extensive improvements to its campuses.

Voters approved a $33 million measure in September, giving the district the needed funding to renovate and expand buildings at its campuses, which include Scott, Clinton and Muscatine community colleges. In the almost five months since then, leaders have broken ground on one new building, completed the design for two projects and hired architects for at least six others.

“Because the cost of construction goes up every year, we have less to play with, so we are moving very efficiently on this,” said Patricia Kier, the college district’s chancellor. “It’s going to be a challenge. The only reason we want to slow down is if it’s going to jeopardize quality. Other than that, we are going to try and get the job done.”

In all, the district will take on 18 projects, which officials hope to finish within four years to avoid rising construction costs that could push them over budget. To help meet that deadline, two administrators were reassigned to manage the projects full time, she said.

It marks the first time in the district’s history that such extensive improvements have been made at one time, said Kirk Barkdoll, the district’s facilities director, who is devoting his time to the undertaking.

The projects under way include:

** A new building for the district’s welding program near the Blong Technology Center.

** Science and technology additions to its three main campuses in Bettendorf, Clinton and Muscatine.

** Satellite campuses in Maquoketa and west Davenport.

** A new Blong Technology Center Alternative Energy Building that will offer programs focusing on alternative renewable energy sources and training in renewable energy systems technician programming.

** An addition and renovations to Scott Community College’s Applied Technology Building.

Barkdoll said he is trying to stagger the improvements to keep from overwhelming the staff involved at each campus. Schools slated for multiple projects will focus on completing the design phase of one project before moving onto the next, he said.

“We are making sure we don’t bury them in projects,” he said. “The most intensive part is the design phase. After that, when it goes to bid, it’s not as bad.”

Last year, the district asked voters for the first time in its history for funding to overhaul its buildings, many of which were built between 1965 and 1975 and had undergone few renovations. Before doing so, leaders whittled down a list of possible projects and began laying the groundwork for them, which has put the district in a better position to meet its four-year timeline, Kier said.

“(The timeline) is doable,” Barkdoll said. “It’s going to take a concerted effort on everyone’s part. I feel comfortable and confident that we will come out with good products that will benefit students and the communities.”