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Overview/News
News
8/25/2009
Expansion Projects: On time, under budget
One thing has remained constant since the start
of the $89 million campus expansion program: The projects have been under budget
and on schedule. And there’s more.
About 25 percent of the contractors are located
within the Moraine Valley district and have earned about $18 million in
contracts. On any given day there have been about 25 contractors involved in the
projects with an average of 100 to 150 workers on the job. Local contractors
accounted for 65 percent of work in renovating the original buildings—A, B and
L. That was followed closely by 59 percent of the contracts for infrastructure
work. Approximately 20 percent of the contracts for the Southwest Education
Center were awarded to local companies and about 16 percent of the work done on
the Moraine Business and Conference Center was by local contractors.
Approximately 15 percent of the work on the Student Union and Student Services
Center went to local firms and 12 percent of the work done on the Dr. Vernon O.
Crawley Science Hall was by local contractors.
The sluggish economy, especially in the
construction area, played an important role in helping the college obtain
favorable bids for each project component. Of the six projects included in the
$89 million referendum approved by voters in March 2006, only one project missed
the original budget estimate and that was by less than $200,000. All in all, the
six projects were about $5.4 million under the original estimates.
1/23/2009
Southwest Education Center
Preliminary site work will begin in the spring
on the Southwest Education Center at 179th Street and 94th Avenue in Tinley
Park. The $10.5 million project will be the college’s first LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) certified building. The projected completion
date of the education center is Summer, 2010.
The center will be approximately 32,000 square
feet and house 15 classrooms, that include a science lab, 2 computer rooms and
several multipurpose rooms. The building will also include a quiet study room,
tutoring and testing centers and a cyber-café with an outdoor seating area.
In addition to parking for 390 vehicles and a
bus drop-off area, bike racks will be available to encourage alternate modes of
transportation.
Some of the LEED features in the building
design and surrounding site include a geothermal heating and cooling system to
reduce the building’s overall energy consumption, and daylighting, sun
harvesting and lighting controls. These daylight-compensating controls will
reduce the need for artificial lighting. There will be water-efficient
landscaping, which utilizes native plant species, vegetative bio-swales, porous
paving materials and two water retention ponds. Recycled materials will be used
throughout the building wherever possible.
Classes will be scheduled in the education
center during daytime, evening and Saturday hours. The course selection will
include a mix of general education, introductory career courses, non-credit and
continuing education. Student support services such as registration and
financial aid counseling will also be available.
11/4/2008
Moraine Valley to
break ground on education center
Moraine Valley Community College will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its
Southwest Education Center on Tuesday, November 11, at 3 p.m. at 179th Street
and 94th Avenue, where the two-story “green” building will be located.
“We are very pleased that we are now able to
move ahead with our Southwest Education Center,” said Dr. Vernon O. Crawley,
college president. We hope some of the preliminary site work might begin late
fall or early winter. We look forward to starting our project so we can begin
serving students in the southwest area of our district with a green facility
that will serve our communities for years to come. We’re hoping we can open for
summer 2010.”
The $10.5 million project will be the College’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) certified building that will implement green building
features and a high-performance design.
The center will be approximately 32,000 square feet and will introduce energy
efficient and environmentally conscious design, interactive with and integrated
into the curriculum. The building will house 15 classrooms, a science lab, quiet
study room, two computer labs, offices, and a cyber-cafe with an outdoor seating
area. There will be a two-story wing on the north and a one-story wing on the
south side with a two-story corridor running east-west.
The building site features parking for approximately 390 vehicles, bus-drop off,
water-efficient landscaping, which will use native plant species, vegetative
(bio) swales and two water retention ponds. The future 15,000-square-foot
building addition will be constructed on the east end of the building.
Additional 160 parking spots will be available on site to accommodate future
growth.
A geothermal heating and cooling system is planned. The use of a geothermal
system will help further reduce the buildings overall energy consumption. To
further conserve energy the design will maximize the use of “daylighting”
throughout the building. Maximizing daylight in the building will minimize
electric lighting demands and thereby reduce the cooling load of the building.
Current building design maximizes the use of “daylighting” through the use of
strategically located windows, louvers, and light shelves and through the
implementation of daylight-compensating lighting controls that will reduce the
need for artificial lighting as the natural daylight is maximized. Recycled
materials will be used wherever possible.
“We believe the center will be an asset to the Tinley Park area and to the
college,” Dr. Crawley said. “Our growth is in the southwest sector of our
district, and we want to accommodate residents as much as we can in their
educational pursuits.”
10/22/2008
Southwest
Educational Center receives final approval
The Southwest Education Center at 179th
Street and 94th Avenue got the green light Tuesday, October 21, when Moraine
Valley’s request for special use permit received approval by the Tinley Park
mayor.
“We are very pleased that we are now able to
move ahead with our Southwest Education Center. In partnership with Tinley Park
we look forward to serving all students in the southwest area of our district,”
Dr. Vernon O. Crawley, college president, said.
“We would like to hold a groundbreaking in
early November, so that some of the preliminary site work might begin late fall
or early winter. We look forward to starting our project so we can begin serving
students in the southwest area of our district with a green facility that will
serve our communities for years to come.”
The $10.5 million project will be the College’s
first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building
that will implement green building features and a high-performance design.
The center will be approximately 32,000 square
feet and will introduce energy efficient and environmentally conscious design,
interactive with and integrated into the curriculum. The building will house 15
classrooms, a science lab, quiet study room, two computer labs, offices, and a
cyber-cafe with an outdoor seating area. There will be a two-story wing on the
north and a one-story wing on the south side with a two-story corridor running
east-west.
The building site features parking for
approximately 390 vehicles, bus-drop off, water-efficient landscaping, which
will use native plant species, vegetative (bio) swales and two water retention
ponds. The future 15,000-square-foot building addition will be constructed on
the east end of the building. Additional 160 parking spots will be available on
site to accommodate future growth.
A geothermal heating and cooling system is
planned. The use of a geothermal system will help further reduce the buildings
overall energy consumption. To further conserve energy the design will maximize
the use of “daylighting” throughout the building. Maximizing daylight in the
building will minimize electric lighting demands and thereby reduce the cooling
load of the building. Current building design maximizes the use of “daylighting”
through the use of strategically located windows, louvers, and light shelves and
through the implementation of daylight-compensating lighting controls that will
reduce the need for artificial lighting as the natural daylight is maximized.
Recycled materials will be used wherever possible.
“We believe the center will be an asset to the
Tinley Park area and to the college,” Dr. Crawley said. “Our growth is in the
southwest sector of our district, and we want to accommodate residents as much
as we can in their educational pursuits.”
9/24/2008
Tinley Park Board initially approves
SW Educational Center
The Tinley Park Village Board on September 23 approved the first reading of
Moraine Valley’s zoning request to build the Southwest Education Center at 179th
Street and 94th Avenue. The board is expected to give final approval in two
weeks.
The trustees voted overwhelmingly in favor of
the college’s request for a special use permit, saying they welcome Moraine
Valley into their community and want to continue working with the college to
provide educational opportunities to area residents.
“We are pleased with the favorable vote and the
interest Tinley Park officials have shown in establishing our center. We believe
the center will be an asset to the Tinley Park area and to the college,” Dr.
Vernon O. Crawley, college president, said. “Our growth is in the southwest
sector of our district, and we want to accommodate residents as much as we can
in their educational pursuits.”
The $10.5 million project will be the College’s
first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building
that will implement green building features and a high-performance design.
The center will be approximately 32,000 square
feet and will introduce energy efficient and environmentally conscious design,
interactive with and integrated into the curriculum. The building will house 15
classrooms, a science lab, quiet study room, two computer labs, offices, and a
cyber-cafe with an outdoor seating area. There will be a two-story wing on the
north and a one-story wing on the south side with a two-story corridor running
east-west.
The building site features parking for
approximately 390 vehicles, bus-drop off, water-efficient landscaping, which
will use native plant species, vegetative (bio) swales and two water retention
ponds. The future 15,000-square-foot building addition will be constructed on
the east end of the building. Additional 160 parking spots will be available on
site to accommodate future growth.
A geothermal heating and cooling system is
planned. The use of a geothermal system will help further reduce the buildings
overall energy consumption. To further conserve energy the design will maximize
the use of “daylighting” throughout the building. Maximizing daylight in the
building will minimize electric lighting demands and thereby reduce the cooling
load of the building. Current building design maximizes the use of “daylighting”
through the use of strategically located windows, louvers, and light shelves and
through the implementation of daylight-compensating lighting controls that will
reduce the need for artificial lighting as the natural daylight is maximized.
Recycled materials will be used wherever possible.
For more information, call Mark Horstmeyer,
director of College and Community Relations, at (708) 974-5275, or
horstmeyer@morainevalley.edu.
8/2008
Work on campus
expansion on schedule
Construction projects on three new campus buildings are well underway and on
schedule.
The exterior work on the Vernon O. Crawley Science Hall, Moraine Business and
Conference Center, and the Student Union is expected to be finished this fall so
interior work can begin in late fall or early winter. When the Student Union
portion of the College Center (Building C) is completed, renovation work will
start on the existing building. That project is expected to be completed in
2010.
Additionally, the college continues its planning for the two-story Southwest
Center in Tinley Park at 179th Street and 94th Avenue. The center, which will be
a “green” building with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
certification, is anticipated to open in spring 2010. Plans call for the center
to be as energy efficient as possible.
Plans also continue on renovating the original buildings—A, B, and L. Once the
new construction on campus is completed, work will begin on the renovation
project.
4/23/2008
Official names of the
new construction and renovation
The official names of the new construction and
renovation on campus are as follows:
- The Vernon O. Crawley Science Hall
(formerly the Science Hall)
- The Moraine Business and Conference Center
(formerly the Instructional and Job Training Center)
- The Student Services Center (formerly
referred to as the College Center) and the
Student Union renovation and
addition
Work on campus expansion underway
3/11/2008
The campus building program has become a reality as work has started on
expansion and new construction projects with $50.3 million in bids
approved-about 3 percent under budget so far.
Site preparation is underway for the expansion project of the College Center and
for the new Vernon O. Crawley Science Hall and Instructional and Job Training
Center. To date the board has approved 90 percent of the bids for the Vernon O.
Crawley Science Hall, the Instructional and Job Training Center (IJTC), and the
Student Union/Student Center. The bids have included a wide range of work from
excavation and elevators to masonry and glazing. The Board of Trustees has
approved bid packages at its December, January, February and March meetings.
Additionally, the college completed the purchase of 12.6 acres at 179th Street
and 94th Avenue for its southwest education center. The two-story center will be
a "green" building with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
certification. Plans call for the center to be as energy efficient as possible.
Plans also continue on renovating the original buildings-A, B, and L. Once the
new construction on campus is completed, work will begin on the renovation
project. The new science hall and instructional and job training center are
expected to open in fall 2009. The Student Union/Student Center project is
expected to be completed in 2010.
Board approves additional
work on campus expansion
1/23/2008
Another set of bids for the campus expansion
project were approved by the Board of Trustees on January 17, ranging from
elevators to excavation. Seven bids, totaling $3,905,300, for excavation,
masonry, architectural precast, aluminum, glass and glazing, and three
elevators, received approval.
To date the board has approved $21.8 million in
bids for the Vernon O. Crawley Science Hall, the Instructional and Job Training
Center (IJTC), and the Student Union/Student Center, resulting in the projects
being under budget by about $1.5 million. "That gives us a nice cushion in the
event the next set of bids in February come in over the budget estimate," Andy
Duren, vice president for Administrative Services, said.
The board will consider an estimated $13 million in bids for the science
building, $7 million for the IJTC and $12 million for the college center at its
February 21 meeting. The remaining bids will be submitted to the board for
consideration at its March meeting.
Major preliminary work on
campus expansion underway
1/9/2008
Preparation work continues on the campus expansion program that will pave the
way for actual construction to start later this winter. At its December 18,
2007, meeting, the Board of Trustees approved a wide-range of bids including
concrete work and elevators.
The board approved $9.3 million in bid packages for excavation, concrete,
hollowcore precast concrete, masonry, structural steel, and science lab casework
for the new science building, instructional and job training center, and college
center. Bids of $725,000 for installation of concrete caissons for Building C
and $5.8 million for a 4,000-square-foot expansion of Boiler House 1 also were
approved.
"In anticipation of construction of the buildings to start in late winter or
early spring, we had to seek bids on materials that have a long lead time," Andy
Duren, vice president of Administrative Services and College Facilities, said. "We want to have those materials ready to go when the buildings need them, so we
won't have long delays in finishing the projects." Bids on the construction and
renovation work for the three buildings is expected to go to the board for its
consideration in February, he said.
Faculty, staff and students are now seeing construction activity and its
consequences, such as the closing off of the parking area behind Buildings D and
G. That lot will be open only to construction traffic. The west entrance of the
College Center also is closed, leaving only the north and east entrances open.
Demolition of the west entrance vestibule is underway.
Moraine Valley trustees name
new building for college president
11/9/2007
The new science building, part of the Moraine
Valley Community College's $89 million campus improvement program, will be named
Vernon O. Crawley Science Hall. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved a
resolution November 7 during a groundbreaking ceremony for the program.
"Whereas through his vision and leadership,
Moraine Valley remains a strong and viable institution that has enhanced the
quality of life for the 26 communities the college serves," said Joseph Murphy,
board chairman, reading from the resolution. "Now therefore, be it resolved that
effective November 7, 2007, that the new science building will be named the
Vernon O. Crawley Science Hall. And be it further resolved that he be commended
for his dedication, commitment, and the many contributions he has made to
Moraine Valley Community College," Murphy said. The board voted 8-0 to approve
the resolution.
The college held the groundbreaking ceremony
near the site of the new science building and Instructional and Job Training
Center. Construction is expected to start on those buildings along with the
renovation and expansion of the College Center in late winter or early spring.
"I am truly touched," said Dr. Crawley, who has
served as president since 1991. "This is a complete surprise. I had no idea. I
am so appreciative to the board and to the faculty and staff. Without all of
their support and hard work, something like this would never happen."
Some 200 people attended the afternoon
ceremony, including state senators Edward Maloney and Louis Viverito; state
representatives Kevin Joyce and Kevin McCarthy; mayors Gerald Bennett of Palos
Hills, Irene Brodie of Robbins and Ed Guzdziol of Worth; Geoffrey Obrzut,
president and CEO of the Illinois Community College Board; former members of the
college's Board of Trustees John Daley, Burton Odelson and Tom Sullivan; Moraine
Valley Foundation board members David Heide, president, and Dennis Shannon, and
Maria DeCaprio-Sunta; faculty and staff.
The groundbreaking ceremonially kicked off the
start of the $89 million building projects approved by the community in a
referendum in March 2006. In addition to the three major construction projects,
plans also call for construction of an education center in the southwest area of
the college district, upgrades to technology, and renovation to Moraine Valley's
original buildings-A, B, L, and G.
For news media inquiries, call Mark Horstmeyer,
director of College and Community Relations, at (708) 974-5275, or e-mail:
horstmeyer@morainevalley.edu.
Moraine Valley to break
ground on $89 million building program
October 30, 2007
The community is invited to help commemorate the start of
Moraine Valley Community College's $89 million building program at 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 7. The ceremony will take place in the west end of the Fine
and Performing Arts Center parking lot. A reception will follow in the center.
Residents approved the $89 million bond referendum in March 2006 that includes
renovation of and expansion of the College Center and construction of an
Instructional and Job Training Center and a Science Building. The work is
expected to begin this winter. Planning also continues on the other
referendum-funded projects. Those include the renovation of the college's
original buildings-A, B, L, and G, technology upgrades, and construction of a
southwest education center in Tinley Park.
The College Center project includes renovation and the addition of a student
union with an estimated budget of $16.5 million. The College Center will house
all of the student services such as admissions, registration, counseling,
academic advising, disability services, grant programs, a lecture room, and
expansion of the child care center. The student union will include dining,
classrooms, offices for student organizations and the student newspaper. The two
buildings will be linked by a "student street" or corridor.
The opening of the 100,000-square-foot Science Building is anticipated for the
fall 2009 semester. The estimated project budget for the building, including
equipment, furnishings and site improvements is $22.5 million. The new facility
will house 17 laboratories and classrooms.
The 55,000-square-foot Instructional and Job Training Center also is expected to
open in fall 2009. The new facility will include multi-purpose rooms with
seating for up to 600 persons and seminar rooms and will house a new culinary
arts program and the Moraine Valley Foundation offices. The estimated cost is
$12.5 million.
The final bond sale of approximately $74 million was approved by the Board of
Trustees in October. Moody's Investors Service gave a high rating to the
college's bond issuances, resulting in a tax rate considerably less than what
the college anticipated during the referendum campaign. Earlier bond sales were
held in November and December 2006.
"You are an elite college because of your financial situation and leadership,"
said Linda Matkowski, senior vice president for PMA Securities, Inc., the
college's financial advisor. "You are in the top tier-top two to three community
colleges in Illinois with this rating."
The Aa1 rating, according to Moody's, "reflects the district's substantial and
economically diverse tax base; consistently sound financial operations supported
by healthy reserves; and a favorable debt profile." Moody's also noted that it
anticipates the district's "strong financial position to continue for the
foreseeable future given its historically conservative budgeting practices...and
strong management team."
Because of the excellent bond rating Moody's awarded the college, the increase
in the tax rate was less than 5.5 cents per $100 of equalized assessed
valuation. An owner, for example, of a home valued at $200,000, would pay an
additional $42 per year. During the referendum campaign in 2006, college
officials conservatively estimated the tax rate at 7.65 cents per $100 equalized
assessed valuation, or about a $59 increase.
For news media inquiries, contact Mark Horstmeyer, director of College and
Community Relations, at (708) 974-5275, or
horstmeyer@morainevalley.edu.
College to start
preliminary work to prepare for construction projects
July 26, 2007
The expansion project for the College Center is
expected to start soon with preliminary work, and later in the fall construction
of the science building and the instructional and job training center is
expected to begin.
A new 650-space parking, located in the
southwest area of campus, will be completed in time for the start of the fall
semester August 20, and construction is underway on a 250-space lot south of the
Fine and Performing Arts Center. The lots will increase the number of overall
parking spots on campus. There will be signs directing visitors from the new
lots to the rest of campus
College expansion program project
status report
May 3, 2007
Planning and design work continue on the campus
expansion projects with a hopeful eye on breaking ground in late fall on three
major projects. But before that can happen, preparation work will need to be
completed, including a major parking lot and electrical work.
Final building designs on the science building,
instructional and job training center, and the renovation and expansion of the
College Center are expected to be presented to the Board of Trustees this
summer. College officials are hopeful that work can begin in late fall, although
a specific date has not been determined.
In the meantime, work has started on a new
parking lot that will be located in the southwest area of the campus. The
parking lot will provide 630 spaces for the science building and the
instructional and job training center. Some parking spaces at the existing lot
west of the Fine and Performing Arts Center will be lost because the job
training center will be built next to the arts center. The new lot is expected
to open in August in time for the start of the fall semester. Work on another
parking lot that will provide 250 spaces is scheduled to begin this summer. It
will be located in front of the main entrance to the Fine and Performing Arts
Center. That lot is expected to be completed in the fall.
The completion of both parking lots will provide more parking spots than the
campus has now.
Electrical work in anticipation of the
renovation of the College Center also will begin this summer and will
necessitate closing the west and south entrances to the building.
Moraine Valley moves forward on
southwest site for education center
March 16, 2007
Moraine Valley Community College has approved a contract to purchase a 12.6-acre
site in Tinley Park, so it can provide full services conveniently to residents
in the fastest-growing area of the college district.
"This property at 179th Street and 94th Avenue is ideal for us and offers great
flexibility to our community members who live in the southwest sector of our
district," said Sandra S. Wagner, chair of the Moraine Valley Board of Trustees.
"The site will allow us to build now and expand in the future," said Dr. Vernon
O. Crawley, college president. "It is just east of LaGrange Road, north of
Interstate 80 and west of Harlem Avenue, and convenient for our students who
reside in the southwest area of our district who would otherwise have a
difficult time getting to our main campus in Palos Hills."
The center will offer college credit and noncredit courses during the day,
evening and Saturdays similar to the college's education center at Blue Island.
The off-campus center is one of the projects in the $89 million bond referendum
voters approved March 21, 2006.
"We look forward to working cooperatively with Tinley Park officials. This is a
win-win situation for the college and the village," Dr. Crawley said.
"We will be able to serve the fastest-growing area of our district
conveniently," said Nancy Cure', dean of Enrichment Services who oversees
off-campus sites. According to the last census for the southwest region of the
district, the population grew 36 percent from 1990 through 2000. Projections
indicate that there will be an additional 35 percent growth in that area in the
upcoming 15 to 25 years.
The center will serve residents in Oak Forest, Orland Hills, Orland Park, and
Tinley Park. "We want to bring Moraine Valley closer to home for these
residents. We have an excellent relationship with Andrew High School and Century
Junior High School, but we are not able to offer day and weekend classes. We
want to be able to provide those alternatives to the community," Cure' said.
Currently, approximately 500 students are enrolled in a variety of evening
classes at Andrew in Tinley Park and at Century in Orland Park. Moraine Valley
has offered classes at Andrew for the past 16 years and at Century for the past
four years.
The center will be approximately 35,700 square feet that would include at least
10 classrooms, two computer labs, a science lab, and a multipurpose room. The
center also would have a student services area, its own parking lot, and the
potential for expansion.
For more information, call Mark Horstmeyer, director of College and Community
Relations, at (708) 974-5275, or e-mail:
horstmeyer@morainevalley.edu.
Moraine Valley trustees approve $5.25
million bond sale
January
21, 2007
The Moraine Valley Board of Trustees approved the college's second bond issue
December 19 for $5.25 million as part of the $89 million expansion project the
community approved last spring.
"This $5.25 million sale is aimed at the retail market of investors," said
Robert Sterkowitz, the college's chief financial officer. "This sale gives the
community an opportunity to invest in Moraine Valley." Bonds will be sold in
$5,000 denominations and will pay interest semiannually at rates set on the sale
date of December 19, based on prevailing municipal market interest rates.
Trustees approved the first sale of $10 million at their November meeting and
are expected to approve the final issuance of $73.75 million in late summer or
early fall of 2007. The Moody's bond rating of Aa1 and the tax rate of 5.5 cents
per $100 of equalized assessed valuation remains the same as it did for the
first sale. The first sale will fund architectural work and preliminary
construction planning costs, and the second and third phases will fund the
construction and renovation projects.
The Aa1 rating, according to Moody's, "reflects the district's substantial and
economically diverse tax base; consistently sound financial operations supported
by healthy reserves; and a favorable debt profile." Moody's also noted that it
anticipates the district's "strong financial position to continue for the
foreseeable future given its historically conservative budgeting practices...and
strong management team."
Because of the top rating and favorable market conditions, Moraine Valley was
able to lower the tax rate to 5.5 cents per $100 of equalized assessed
valuation. An owner of a home valued at $200, 000, for example, can expect to
pay an additional $50 in taxes in 2007. During the referendum campaign last
spring, college officials conservatively estimated the tax rate at 7.65 cents
per $100 equalized assessed valuation, or about a $59 increase.
"We are pleased that we can continue to maintain a lower tax rate than we had
estimated last March," said Sandra S. Wagner, board chairman. "Once again our
high bond rating and subsequent lower tax rate because of our fiscal
accountability demonstrates the good stewardship the college has sustained over
the years."
Voters approved the referendum on March 21 that will allow the college to
construct a science building, an instructional and job training center on campus
and establish an education center in the southwest area of the district.
Additionally, bond funds will pay for renovation of the college's original
buildings and technology upgrades.
For more information, call Mark Horstmeyer, director of College and Community
Relations, at (708) 974-5275, or e-mail:
horstmeyer@morainevalley.edu.
Moraine Valley trustees approve
$10 million bond sale
November 20, 2006
The Moraine Valley Board of
Trustees received good news concerning the sale of bonds to begin funding the
college's $89 million construction and renovation program that voters approved
last March. Moody's Investors Service gave a high rating to the college's first
bond issuance, and the tax rate will be considerably less than what the college
anticipated during the referendum campaign.
Moody's assigned an Aa1 rating-one notch under the top Aaa rating Moody's
assigns to bonds. "You are an elite college because of your financial situation
and leadership," Linda Matkowski, senior vice president for PMA Securities,
Inc., the college's financial advisor. "You are in the top tier-top two to three
community colleges in Illinois with this rating."
The Aa1 rating, according to Moody's, "reflects the district's substantial and
economically diverse tax base; consistently sound financial operations supported
by healthy reserves; and a favorable debt profile." Moody's also noted that it
anticipates the district's "strong financial position to continue for the
foreseeable future given its historically conservative budgeting practices...and
strong management team."
Because of the top rating and favorable market conditions, Moraine Valley was
able to lower the tax rate to 5.5 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation
for this first issuance and expects the rate to remain around 5.5 cents for the
remaining bond issues. An owner of a home valued at $200, 000, for example, can
expect to pay an additional $50 in taxes in 2007. During the referendum campaign
last spring, college officials conservatively estimated the tax rate at 7.65
cents per $100 equalized assessed valuation, or about a $59 increase.
"We are delighted with the good news," said Sandra S. Wagner, board chairman.
"We are so pleased that we are able to establish a tax rate lower than original
expectations because of Moraine Valley's reputation and good standing in the
community. This is testimony to the college's good stewardship of public
dollars."
After hearing the good news, the board approved the sale of $10 million in
bonds, the first phase of a three-phase sale. The board will be asked at its
December meeting to issue an additional $5.5 million. The remaining $73.5
million in bonds is expected to be issued in late summer to early fall. The
first sale will fund architectural work and preliminary construction planning
costs. The second and third phases will fund the construction and renovation
projects.
Voters approved the referendum on March 20 that will allow the college to
construct a science building, an instructional and job training center on campus
and establish an education center in the southwest area of the district.
Additionally, bond funds will pay for renovation of the college's original
buildings and technology upgrades.
Project teams plan for expansion projects
Over the next several years, the landscape of Moraine Valley will be
dramatically changed thanks to the college's 26 suburban communities and the
legions of volunteers who helped pass an $89 million bond referendum March 21,
2006.
Now, the hard work has started on the College
Expansion Program with the formation of internal project teams to help develop
programming and building design for new construction and renovation. The teams include:
-
New Science Building
-
New Instructional
and Job Training Center
-
Student Services
Renovations, including an expanded Student Center and Child Care Center
-
New Southwest
Education Center
-
Technology Upgrades
-
Infrastructure
Upgrades in Buildings A, B, L, and G
The teams consist of
team leader(s), administrators, faculty and staff, and user groups who have been
meeting since July 2006 to develop the individual building programs.
Each team's goal is to
define the facilities criteria required for each component of the individual
projects. This process involves a series of meetings/discussions with the
individual user groups associated with each project and progresses from general
to specific needs. Project teams also have identified and visited
other colleges with projects similar to those being considered by Moraine Valley
to use them as benchmarks. The overall process will culminate in a comprehensive
document that the teams will refer to throughout the design process.
At this point in
the planning process, the project teams have been maximizing their space
requests with their space needs while remaining keenly aware of the overall
project budget. At the same time, the teams are asking and answering some
difficult and provocative questions about the future needs of the college to
ensure that the new and remodeled facilities will be flexible enough to respond
to the ever-changing needs of the community.
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