Track project, enrollment discussed

Signs of a recovering economy percolated through a monthly meeting of Community Colleges of Spokane officials Tuesday, although not every sign was welcomed.

The cost to resurface the aging Spokane Falls Community College track will cost $63,000 more than anyone anticipated.

“The construction companies that do this kind of job are busy,” said Maury Ray, Community Colleges of Spokane athletic director.

A busy summer season has made companies more selective and led to fewer competitive bids for what’s considered a small project, Ray said.

In April, research showed the track project would likely return bids around $250,000.

Ray received permission from the community college board of trustees in May to take bids for the project.

The lowest bid that came back was $313,000 from a Texas company, Ray said.

Tracks typically get resurfaced every 10 years, he said, and the 14-year old SFCC track has about one more year before it really starts degrading.

“We’re now developing some safety issues,” Ray said.

The new track will allow the community colleges to attract high-profile track meets, which would be an economic boost to the community, Ray said.

The CCS Board of Trustees approved his request to make up the unanticipated difference with an emergency athletic fund.

In the fall, when the bulk of students return, the SFCC student government leaders will be asked to pay for half of the $63,000 from their emergency fund, Ray said.

The student government split the cost of the $250,000 project with Ray’s departmental funds.

On a brighter note – sort of – more people are evidently finding jobs and not enrolling at community colleges, a traditional safety net for displaced workers seeking new careers.

SFCC President Mark Palek said anecdotal evidence from state registrar workers indicate about half of the state’s 34 community colleges are experiencing slight dips in enrollment for the 2003-2004 academic year.

For the year, Community Colleges of Spokane saw a 1.7 percent dip in annual full-time equivalent students, according to a report released Tuesday.

The dip is small relief from heavy numbers of students taking classes at the community colleges.

CCS Chancellor Gary Livingston pointed out that the colleges are still enrolled over state-financed levels by several hundred students and projections tell educators to expect a swelling student population until the numbers plateau around 2010.