By Clyde Noel

The Foothill-De Anza Community College District unanimously approved its latest five-year construction plan at its Dec. 15 board meeting.

Executive Director of Facilities and Construction Management John Schulze presented the plan to the board. The plan determines the district’s eligibility for capital outlay funding and qualifies new space for state support.

“Measure E provides enough new space to keep pace with anticipated enrollment growth,” Schulze said. “However, the district will have to continue to expand after Measure E is completed if enrollment continues to grow.”

Chancellor Martha Kanter said detailed WCSH (weekly student contact hours) are matched with available square footage and future construction plans to determine whether additional space is warranted.

The board reviewed summary sheets showing the list of the district’s proposed construction plans along with summaries projecting the lecture and laboratory capacity ratios.

As a point of reference, in November 1999, voters in the district’s service area approved a $248 million bond (Measure E) to renovate and expand college facilities and meet current health, safety and instruction standards.

The projects include replacing aging roofs, deteriorated plumbing and electrical systems; refurbishing classrooms, science laboratories and restrooms; and constructing science and high-tech computer labs, classrooms and school facilities.

Each year, the district prepares a five-year construction plan for submittal to the state chancellor’s office. The plan is required and defined by the state and projects the effect of added space when compared with enrollment and existing space and academic programs.