Upgraded classrooms, technology and facilities may become a reality thanks to a potential educational facilities bond.

A letter sent out by Chancellor Foothill-De Anza chancellor Judy Miner says a new facilities bond, similar to the Measure C bond passed in 2006, has a high chance of being added to the 2018 ballet.

A previous $491 million bond approved by voters of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District in 2006, ended on June 30, 2017 and paid for upgrades to the library, lighting and new multimedia and technology.

“A facilities bond would require voter approval of only 55 percent, yet 77 percent of respondents in a fall survey of likely voters were willing to support a bond this November,” Miner writes on a “Join the Conversation” website.

The district’s upcoming educational needs and priorities include upgraded classrooms and labs in science, technology, engineering, math, healthcare, early childhood education and auto repair/technology training programs. Expanding resources for veterans and accessibility for students with disabilities are also on the list.

Basic repairs must also be addressed such as earthquake safety, fixing roofs, upgrading electrical wiring, gas, sewer lines and making repairs to aging plumbing systems to prevent flooding and water damage.

De Anza student Sanika Utturkar, 23, communications studies major weighed in on topic, saying, “I think it would be beneficial and efficient. The ratio of students is higher compared to the resources that are provided, so it would be cool to implement new tech and computer labs for students to have more access.”

Al Vo, 27, science nursing major said the campus bathrooms need an upgrade. “They need more updated technology because they are such a widely used school,” he said, adding that the college needs to, “keep up with the trend of technology in order to keep ahead of the technological boom which is Silicon Valley.”

Paula Norsell, assistant to the chancellor, said the district’s governing board has not made a decision about whether to put a new bond measure on the ballot and the administration recommended gathering additional community input before any decision is made.

The district is still soliciting feedback from the community regarding priorities and students are welcome to join in on the conversation by completing the survey at the following link:
(http://www.fhda.edu/JoinTheConversation).