HENSLEY, SCHUBERT PROVIDE BLINN BOARD WITH SEVERAL UPDATES
In addition to regular action Tuesday, the Blinn Board of Trustees also heard several updates regarding building projects and the recently completed legislature.
The board heard a legislative recap from Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs Leighton Schubert, who called this a “very successful session” and a “very good year for community colleges”. Schubert said overall, there was a 3.82 percent increase in funding, or $67.8 million, per community college this session, compared to last session. He said the state is now spending $1.84 billion on community colleges.
Schubert said, for Blinn College specifically, there has been a large increase in success point funding. Current biennium funding per success points is $203, compared to $172 in the previous biennium. Schubert said this makes up the bulk of funding for all community colleges, and is “the largest increase in success points we’ve ever had in one session”.
Schubert said Blinn had an overall increase of $2.51 billion across the biennium, about a 5.4 percent increase from last biennium. He also gave details on the passage of Senate Bill 2309, filed by Senator Lois Kolkhorst, which will place the Star of the Republic Museum under management of the Texas Historical Commission.
The board also received several administrative updates from Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley, who gave the status of construction projects on the Brenham campus.
Hensley said Phase I construction of the front portion of the W.L. Moody Jr. Library is complete, and Phase II has begun. She said construction is approximately 55 percent complete, and the College remains on schedule for completion in August.
Hensley also announced the Brenham campus site improvements project has begun, with sidewalk demolition work taking place at the Student Center. This project also remains on schedule for August.
The Brenham campus monument sign project will be released for bid later this month, and recommendation to award a construction contract will be at the August 20th board meeting. Construction is scheduled to begin September 1st and wrap up by November 15th.
The planned agricultural sciences building being built by Collier Construction on the Brenham campus is expected to be completed in January.
Hensley said the contractor for the Old Main window replacement project has provided an updated delivery schedule for the windows. The windows that will be installed on the third and fourth floors should arrive by July 22nd, and the windows for the first and second floors will come in August.
The roof replacement work at the Dr. W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts Center has begun, and is set for completion in August.
The City of Brenham’s continued water line replacement project is underway on Blinn Boulevard, and is expected for completion in August. Hensley said the city and the College are maintaining “constant communication” on the project.
There was also a presentation on the May 22nd groundbreaking for an Agriculture and Workforce Education Complex on the RELLIS Campus. The $15 million, 38,000 square foot facility will serve as the home of the Texas A&M Agriculture Science program, as well as the Blinn Technical and Community Education programs. The complex is expected to be completed next June.