Nov. 8, 2005, marked a milestone for the Alamo Community College District when voters granted a $450 million bond for improvements and additions to the local campuses.

The Palo Alto campus is slated to receive $55 million for new buildings. Of that, $12.6 million will be spent on a new Humanities and Convocation Center, and $6.3 million will be spent on a Science and Veterinary Technology Building, moving students from Brooks City-Base to the Villaret campus.

Palo Alto also plans to use an estimated $9.7 million to build the Auto Manufacturing Center of Excellence, $6.3 million for a One-Stop Student and Workforce Center, $4.6 million for a Health Education and Physical Conditioning Center, $6.5 million on an Allied Health Career Center, and $1.7 million on parking.

Additional improvements to ACCD campuses include $17.5 million in Information Technology. $10.1 million will go to District-wide connectivity, $1.2 million for a Cyber Information Technology Center, $2.3 million for Distance Learning Systems Resources, $2.2 million for Electronic Communication Systems, and $1.7 million for network and data security systems.

Construction is set to begin at Palo Alto in Fall 2006, with a long-awaited parking lot being first on the agenda. After completion of the new buildings, renovations will start on older buildings starting in Spring 2008. While the original campus buildings are being renovated, Palo Alto will use the newly constructed buildings to maintain enrollment and growth.

Stacey Johnson, Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Palo Alto said, “The next five years will be some of the most exciting times for this college since it was originally founded and built more than 20 years ago. We are going to be able to double the square footage of this campus and ultimately be in the position to better serve our community in the years ahead.”

Many students are excited about the new plans and hope to make the best of the facilities when they do become available, while some students wish the money would be spent on areas that need improvements.“There are so many new additions and improvements coming to Palo Alto. This shines a whole new light on this area of San Antonio,” said Ashley Escamilla, a freshman Education major. “I’ve been coming here since I was in middle school, and it’s great to finally see some changes starting to take place.” One area students would also like to see improvements is in the college’s Student Center. Many students have large gaps between their classes and find themselves with nothing to do in their downtime. Many of these students also rely on the bus system or car pooling and have no way to leave the campus.

“We need an area in the Student Center where we can just hang out, maybe some pool tables or a lounging area to help the time pass,” said David Tindall, a freshman Radiation Therapy major.

On the same token as the students, faculty members also want to share their ideas and input concerning the construction process.

“Every room should have cable television and Internet access. There also needs to be more audio and visual equipment in the classrooms,” said Sandra Gieseler, a 12-year Instructor of Government. Gieseler also suggested that the college needs to hire more teaching staff. The Social Science Department is struggling to find more instructors.

Bailey Lathem, a part-time Speech Instructor who has been teaching at Palo Alto for one year, said, “I am very excited for the new buildings to be erected, and I’m also excited for the growth of parking spaces. It is difficult sometimes for me as a faculty member to find a space.”

Lathem also said she can’t wait to have access to all the educational tools that will help her provide an excellent education to every single student. “I know that is what the purpose is, and that is why I feel honored to teach at Palo Alto.”

The main difference in opinion about how the money should be spent seems to be recreation versus education. The faculty believes the money should be spent on bettering the quality of education, while the students want to make the campus more student friendly.

Students who are interested in participating in the committees and groups that oversee the new buildings should contact the Student Government, in the Student Center, Room 101, or at (210) 921-5538, as soon as possible.

Dean Johnson said, “I think Student Government is a great way to have students involved. I will forward a suggestion to the Vice President and President concerning the inquiry about having a student representative on each of the user groups.”