Measure E Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What is Measure E?
2. How have Measure E-funded projects been prioritized?
3. Why is the college district not undertaking all of the projects on the original project list?
4. How much has the college district saved by using its own internal resources/staff for construction program management?
5. What guides all construction and renovation projects?
6. How can the community know that the college district is spending bond funds appropriately?
7. In total, how many Measure E-funded projects are there?
8. What new Santa Ana College facilities have been built?
9. Which renovations have been completed at Santa Ana College and which remain to be done?
10. What new Santiago Canyon College facilities have been completed?
11. When will a parking structure be built at Santa Ana College?
12. What other construction projects are forthcoming at Santa Ana College?
13. What additional construction projects are expected at Santiago Canyon College?
14. Will Santiago Canyon College have a gymnasium?

1. What is Measure E?

In 2002, voters approved Measure E, a $337 million general obligation bond to renovate existing campus buildings and construct new classrooms to alleviate overcrowding and outdated instructional facilities at Santa Ana College, Santiago Canyon College, the education centers and the district operations center of the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD).

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2. How have Measure E-funded projects been prioritized?

Priorities have been set at the college level through the Santiago Canyon College and the Santa Ana College Facilities Committees utilizing the shared governance structure. Since the inception of the Measure E-funded construction and renovation projects—that were originally forecast through 2017—each college campus community has regularly reviewed project lists and reprioritized needs based on factors beyond the district’s control. These factors include skyrocketing construction and land acquisition costs, global and community factors that affect instructional facility needs.

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3. Why is the college district not undertaking all of the projects on the original project list?

The college district could not predict the effect that a construction boom in China and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina would have on worldwide construction costs driving the costs of steel, copper, lumber and concrete in the state up 30 percent in 2005 alone. Costs continue to rise each year. Additionally, the price of land in Orange County has drastically increased since 2002. The initial project list was based on future estimated construction costs; no architectural plans had been completed as no funding was in hand to do so. The list stated in 2001 that “The budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors beyond the District’s control.”

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4. How much has the college district saved by using its own internal resources/staff for construction program management?

By providing its own program management services, the college district has saved an estimated $20.2 million.

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5. What guides all construction and renovation projects?

In March 2004, revised master plans were approved for Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College. These documents, created with faculty, student and community input, enables the RSCCD Board of Trustees to continue to make facility-related decisions that support the educational needs of the students and the community.

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6. How can the community know that the college district is spending bond funds appropriately?

Measure E was presented to the electorate under the provision of Proposition 39 which requires that RSCCD appoint an independent bond oversight committee. The eight-member bond oversight committee holds public meetings to review project plans and to ensure all bond funds are being used for capital projects not administrative, faculty or staff salaries. The committee also oversees an annual audit of all Measure E expenditures. To date, the independent oversight committee has consistently given the district the highest possible evaluation for efficient and effective use of bond funds.

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7. In total, how many Measure E-funded projects are there?

The district, home to Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College, has a total of 21 projects that have been completed or are being undertaken through Measure E.

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8. What new Santa Ana College facilities have been built?

Three new facilities have been built:

• The 52,000-square-foot Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy, the new home of SAC’s public safety training program, was dedicated in September 2007.
• A 22,000-square-foot Exercise Science Locker Room Facility, completed in May 2007, boasts a weightlifting pavilion, a double-in-size training room, a new fitness center, new locker rooms, two classrooms, nine faculty offices and a conference room. A new softball field is completed, and the track has been resurfaced.
• The 28,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Digital Media Center, completed in September 2006, features a two-story lobby, a business incubator for emerging digital media businesses, classrooms equipped with remote desktop connection software and a 10,000-square-foot production facility that serves as the new home of the Santa Ana College (SAC) TV/video department and SAC-TV.

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9. Which renovations have been completed at Santa Ana College and which remain to be done?

Of the 14 building renovations included in the ballot text, the following have already been completed: the library (L Building), Dunlap Hall (D Building), Administration Building (S Building), Fine Arts/Art Gallery (C Building) and a portion of Cook Gymnasium (G Building). Still on the list for renovation are Hammond Hall (H Building), Russell Hall (R Building), Cook Gymnasium (G Building—restroom renovation coming soon), J (Auto Shop), K (Welding), M (Planetarium), N (Music Building), T (Technical Building), U (Johnson Center), and W (Physical Education). A new orchestra pit cover and a backstage upgrade are currently underway at P (Phillips Hall).

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10. What new Santiago Canyon College facilities have been completed?

• The 92,500-square-foot Orange Education Center, the hub of SCC’s continuing education program, features 21 classrooms, two high-tech computer labs, an instructional learning center with 50 computer stations, an older adult/parenting classroom, a meeting room that accommodates over 150 people, and a child development center. The OEC was dedicated in February 2005.
• The 30,000-square-foot Student Services and Instruction Building, completed in September 2004, includes ten classrooms, as well as offices for faculty and student services.
• In September 2006, the 40,000-square-foot, two-story library was dedicated. The library accommodates 100,000 books and offers 13 group study rooms, an instruction lab, and more than 75 computer workstations.

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11. When will a parking structure be built at Santa Ana College?

A two-level parking facility ranks high in the college’s priorities. Plans for its construction will be submitted in December to the Division of State Architect, the agency that is responsible for approving all community college construction. The parking structure is slated for construction in mid-2009.

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12. What other construction projects are forthcoming at Santa Ana College?

Construction began in November 2007 on a new two-story, 16-classroom instructional building and a new maintenance and operations building. Later in 2008, renovation of Centennial Education Center is expected to begin, as will construction of a new Child Development Center on the Santa Ana College campus.

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13. What additional construction projects are expected at Santiago Canyon College?

Ground-breaking for the science building is scheduled for early 2008, with construction to take 18 months. It will house laboratories and classrooms for physics, geology, chemistry, biology, as well as a tiered lecture hall. Currently, the new 52,000-square-foot humanities building is in the design phase with construction expected to begin by spring 2009. Shortly, a new softball field featuring dugouts, fences and restrooms will be dedicated.

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14. Will Santiago Canyon College have a gymnasium?

The college’s master plan includes a gymnasium on the campus; however, a specific timeframe for its construction has yet to be determined. Within the past year, plans have been completed for its construction. At this point, funds are being sought to underwrite its construction.

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