Survey: West Valley-Mission College District Voters Support Funding Measure

There's strong voter support for a local higher education funding measure on the June 2012 ballot, a survey commissioned by the West Valley-Mission Community College District shows.

Conducted Nov. 13 through Nov. 21 by EMC Research, it showed as much as 66 percent of overall respondents would support placing such bond on the ballot, well above the 55 percent threshold needed for passage, according to Bradley J. Davis, the college district's associate vice chancellor.

“Our communities clearly understand our vital education needs and recognize the importance of maintaining high quality, affordable higher education at West Valley and Mission Colleges,” said Chancellor John E. Hendrickson in a written statement.

“We are committed to updating academic facilities and technology to prepare students for transfer to four-year universities and provide them with the education they need for the high-demand jobs of the 21st century,” Hendrickson added.

West Valley College in Saratoga and Mission College in Santa Clara enroll more than 26,000 students annually. The district serves residents of Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Campbell, Cupertino, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara and is governed by the seven-member board. There are about 12,000 students attending WVC.

According to Davis, the district will be working with the community during the coming weeks to finalize educational project priorities and develop a budget for the next school year.

“With the U.C. and Cal State systems becoming increasingly expensive, more students are relying on their local community colleges,” said West Valley-Mission Community College District Trustee Adrienne Grey. “We must invest in our colleges so we can continue to provide local students with a high-quality, affordable education and the job training programs they might not otherwise receive.”

Respondents placed high priorities on maintenance, repairs and technology updates and repairing and replacing leaky roofs, heating, cooling, plumbing and electricity throughout aging college campuses, Bradley said.

Making all buildings, classrooms, and community facilities accessible to people with disabilities and improving facilities focused on nursing, radiation technology and other health career programs were also priorities for the public, he added.

Participants also recognized the importance of upgrading and improving training facilities for police, firefighters and paramedics who play a critical role in responding to emergencies, he noted.

“We must develop a plan that will allow West Valley and Mission colleges to accommodate more students in high-demand and popular classes that currently have long waiting lists,” Hendrickson continued. “A local education funding measure can help in continuing to ensure that our students have access to high-quality, affordable higher education right here in our local communities.”