Delta College to make push to better explain Measure L bond plans

San Joaquin Delta College leaders plan a new public relations blitz to better explain their progress on the $250 million Measure L bond projects.

Prominent signs describing projects under construction, newsletters, "e-bulletins" and "road shows" held throughout the college's district will all be part of the campaign.

The push comes in the wake of mounting criticism of Delta leaders for their handling of Measure L, passed by voters in March 2004. The bond promised to establish satellite campuses in Lodi, Tracy, Galt and the foothills, and upgrade the college's main campus in Stockton and its Manteca farm.

As of yet, no new classrooms have been built with the bond money. But college leaders say they have made progress — by starting to buy land at several sites and drafting designs for new buildings on the main campus.

"We want to make sure that the community knows that things are happening," said Andy Dunn, the college's vice president of business services.

Dunn outlined ways the college can better get information out to the public Tuesday night at Delta's Board of Trustees meeting in Stockton.

The first project signs will likely go up on the main campus this month. Those could be placed at the baseball stadium, where work is underway to replace the dugouts and fences and install artificial turf. Signs could eventually go up in front of the planned Gateway Building, an all-inclusive student services building to be constructed at the eastern entrance of the campus.

It's not clear when or how many "road shows" would be held in the district. Those would be "multi-media events designed to provide a solid impression of the Measure L bond program," according to Dunn's report on the new campaign.

Dunn added that the college's bond Web site will also receive a major update in about a month.

Maria Serna, who represents Lodi on the board of trustees, said the new public relations push could help clarify the college's intentions.

Delta's PR push

Proposals for Delta College's public relations push:
• E-bulletins and traditional newsletters.
• Project signs on the Stockton campus.
• Revamped Measure L Web site.
• Road shows, or community meetings.
• Surveys and focus groups.

"I think that there's been a bit of misinformation that's been out there," Serna said following the meeting, noting that some residents have gotten the impression that Delta plans to only build temporary campuses.

Cost overruns at the Mountain House satellite have, in fact, forced the college to plan for a temporary campus in Lodi, complete with portable classrooms. No money has been set aside for permanent buildings at the Victor Road site.

But Serna said that's not the long-term vision Delta has for Lodi.

"Remember, there's grant money out there; there's matching funds," she said, citing ways Delta might pay for a permanent campus.

Trustees did not vote on any major changes to the Measure L projects Tuesday night. They discussed several possible changes — including whether to drop plans for their foothills campus in Valley Springs. But because the meeting was intended mainly for discussion — as are all their first meetings of the month — no votes were made.

The board plans to consider changes, which could add $6.5 million to Lodi's campus plans at their May 15 meeting.

Also last night, Delta College President/Superintendent Raul Rodriguez announced that the state has made a firm commitment on the $30 million matching fund it offered for Delta's planned Cunningham Math and Science building.

The college previously expected to have to wait for several years before the state would commit to the full $30 million in matching funds. This means the college can move forward on construction of the building, expected to house 24 new science labs and cost about $61 million altogether.

"It's going to be the best science building in the state," Rodriguez added.

Additionally, Dunn confirmed after the meeting that he will indeed leave Delta at the end of June. The administrator received formal approval from trustees at Foothill-De Anza Community College District this week. He'll begin his post as that district's vice chancellor of business services in July.

Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

adios! wrote on May 6, 2007 12:12 PM:

" we have an OPTION to buy ferdun property. we DON"T have an OPTION to buy ferdun property. "i screwed-up" now according to rodriguez, dp, serna and burke, IT'S ALL JF'S FAULT! delta's freeloaders are NEVER AT FAULT. rodriguez couldn't sucessfully manage a mcdonald's, the big 4 trustees would demand free burgers, or fire him! and of course when it went belly-up, it would be all jf's fault! "

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