To: The Board of Trustees and Residents of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District
The Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee is pleased to forward its annual report on the progress of the $490.8 million general obligation Measure C bond initiative for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
The committee continues to carry out its principal duties of ensuring that proceeds have been expended for the purposes set forth in the Measure C ballot language, reporting progress annually to the public, and providing a compliance statement. Responsibilities of the Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees include prioritizing projects and monitoring spending levels of individual projects and potential cost overruns.
During this year the pace of construction activities continued at a high level, bringing the total bond expenditures to $262 million. The level of spending over the past five years represents very good progress in providing facilities and equipment improvements to support student learning at both Foothill and De Anza colleges. In addition to reviewing Measure C financial reports, the committee verified physical progress in the field at both colleges by conducting site tours of completed and ongoing projects. On these tours the committee noted significant progress on a wide range of projects including new construction of the Physical Sciences and Engineering Center at Foothill and the Media and Learning Center at De Anza; classroom renovations; site and utility/technology infrastructure upgrades; athletic facility improvements; and roof repairs. All of these improvements directly impact the ability of the colleges to facilitate effective teaching and learning.
A particularly noteworthy milestone achieved in 2011-12 was completion of the new photovoltaic array at De Anza College. Coupled with other arrays at both colleges, these new solar panels provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual savings in electricity costs. These savings help reduce funding deficits being experienced by the colleges due to state budget cuts.
Included in this annual report are highlights and status updates of projects that will prolong the life of the district’s facilities and improve the learning experience of its students.
The committee relied on the annual performance and financial audits conducted by Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co., LLP (VTD), which disclosed no instances of non-compliance with the terms of Proposition 39 or Measure C. The committee wishes to report that, to the best of its knowledge, the Foothill-De Anza Community College District is in full compliance with the responsibilities described in Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3) of the California State Constitution. A full disclosure of the performance and financial audits can be viewed at here.
Very truly yours,
Dudley Andersen,
Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee Chair