College grateful for continued support from Marin County voters
KENTFIELD, CA—Last night the Marin County Registrar of Voters posted unofficial election night results showing College of Marin’s $265 million bond, Measure B, passed with 62.88 percent voting to approve the measure. The measure required a 55 percent supermajority to pass. Election results will be updated Friday, June 10, by 5 p.m. and the results certified by July 7, 2016.
College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to place the $265 million bond measure on the June ballot to address needs identified in the 2014 facilities assessment. The results of this analysis made it clear to trustees that older buildings and classrooms, labs, and vocational education facilities require additional funding for maintenance and modernization. The assessment also identified facilities needed to provide and support job training to returning veterans as well as specialized classrooms and training facilities.
“Once again Marin County voters made clear their support for education, lifelong learning, and community enrichment College of Marin provides local taxpayers,” said Superintendent/President Dr. David Wain Coon said. “We are truly grateful for the continued support from students, faculty, staff, community leaders, citizens, businesses, organizations, and many others whose hard work helped inform voters of the importance of this bond measure passing.”
College administrators are in the process of finalizing a Facilities Master Plan created based on the results of the comprehensive 2014 facilities assessment. The plan also incorporates feedback from a wide variety of campus stakeholders. COM’s facilities challenges include upgrades and repairs to older buildings to meet codes for earthquakes, fires, safety, and accessibility.
Bond language includes strict fiscal accountability protections ensuring that every penny from the measure would benefit COM campuses and could not be taken by the state. In addition, by law, no money could be used for administrator salaries or administration. The measure also requires citizens’ oversight and annual reports to the community to keep the College accountable for how funds are spent.
The board of trustees is deeply committed to making sure the Indian Valley Campus is equipped with the classrooms, labs, and other facilities needed to provide students at that campus with a great education. The board will conduct a community visioning process to ensure that renovations at that campus reflect the communities' needs.
More information on the College’s facilities assessment and projects funded by this bond measure is available on the Facilities Planning Web page.
About the College—90 Years of Transforming Lives Through Education and Training
College of Marin is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Blvd., Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at: www.accjc.org
College of Marin is one of 113 public community colleges in California and approximately 13,000 credit, noncredit, and community education students enroll annually.