Question 3 would boost state colleges Upgrades eyed at MMA, UM, MCCS sites

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University of Maine graduate student Mostapha Aghamoosa, 23, of Orono knows firsthand what funds from the $43.5 million education bond that will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot would do for UM.

As a chemistry student, he spends most of his time in Aubert Hall, where the department is housed. While some of the building has been renovated, laboratories on the second floor remain outdated and portions of the building are closed off to students and staff.

“With Aubert, it’s pretty evident that it’s an old building,” Aghamoosa said. “It’s still in the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde phase right now.”

He described the instructional lab counters as being encrusted with chemicals that have deposited there over the years. One lab is particularly cramped for space, and there are safety issues with ventilation and a lack of enough hoods under which to conduct experiments.

“If it was a question of finances and the finances were available to upgrade, I think it would ultimately pay off,” Aghamoosa said.

If voters approve Question 3, UM intends to use some of its portion of the funding to finish renovations at Aubert. But the bond money would help more than just the Orono campus.

Passage of the education bond is vital to Maine’s future, according to University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude.

If approved, Question 3 would provide $23 million for interior and exterior building renovations and improvements on the seven University of Maine System campuses, $15.5 million for the state’s community colleges, and $1.5 million for Maine Maritime Academy.

Funds going to MMA would be used for necessary maintenance and upgrades to facilities, said Susan Mitchell, external affairs coordinator for the school.

“It will be a great opportunity to forge ahead, not only for the voters of the state of Maine, but for our students,” Mitchell said.

The proceeds from the bond would be used statewide and affect both education and the economy, according to supporters.

“I think it’s one of the most critical investments that the people of Maine will have made in many years,” Pattenaude said.

Funding also would be designated to replenish the School Revolving Renovation Fund for public school repairs and to support capital improvements for cultural and educational assets, including museums, historical facilities and libraries.

The total estimated cost of the bond is about $56.7 million, which represents the $43.5 million in principal and slightly more than $13.1 million in interest if the interest rate is calculated at 5.5 percent over 10 years.

While it’s a lot of money, it’s a necessary investment, according to Pattenaude.

“There are costs that you cannot expect a university to handle [alone],” he said.

The University of Maine is in desperate need of classrooms that can hold 150-plus students because of its increased enrollment in recent years, according to UM President Robert Kennedy. “We really do need an expansion of capacity,” he said.

Simply knocking down walls between rooms to make larger classrooms isn’t the best option, he said. Many buildings on the UM campus are old, and not only is more space needed, but students need access to the latest technology.

When renovations are done on campus, the buildings are made more energy-efficient, and technology is added while preserving the historic exterior. Several of the UM buildings in need of repair are some of the oldest in the state, such as Aubert and Holmes halls, which are 100 or more years old.

Aghamoosa said there’s something special about studying and working in one of the university’s oldest buildings.

“Just the concept of working in an old building, I think it’s beautiful,” Aghamoosa said. “It gives a sense of community to scholars, [and] it connects them with the classes that worked before them – this community that spans decades because they’ve all worked in this old building, and I think that’s worth preserving.”

Kennedy admits that some of the facilities on campus are lacking in some areas, but says that Orono and other UMS campuses are working hard to make changes.

“They are insufficient facilities for what our students need today,” Kennedy said. “This all comes back to competitiveness and jobs.”

The aspect of bringing more jobs to Maine closely links Questions 2 and 3 on the ballot. Question 2 is a bond designed specifically to stimulate economic development and job creation in the state.

“Both bonds really address increasing the technological capabilities in Maine,” Kennedy said, adding that the money would help keep Maine people here and also attract businesses and students from out of state.

“Maine people are enormously talented and hardworking, but if they haven’t got the education and industry tools, they can’t work with the talent they have,” Pattenaude said.

Cutting-edge research facilities and equipment are needed to attract top-notch students, professors and researchers, which in turn leads to more grant funding, spin-off businesses and a well-trained work force.

“One of the primary factors to attract businesses to Maine, or any state, is an educated work force,” Kennedy said.

As for the community college system, the potential for funding comes at a critical time, according to system President John Fitzsimmons.

“The community college system is experiencing unparalleled growth,” he said.

The system has grown by 57 percent in the last four years with no significant investment in the majority of its facilities.

“The community college system exists for one reason. That is to serve Maine people and Maine businesses,” Fitzsimmons said. “We are an important element in any economic development in the state of Maine.”

Higher education officials across the board noted that Maine lawmakers have strongly supported research and development funding in the past, but Pattenaude says that he always has felt there was a disconnect between such funding and the economy. Passage of Questions 2 and 3 would connect the two issues.

“It would be a terrible disadvantage for the people of the state not to take advantage of the investment they’ve already made,” Kennedy said.

The last bond issue that appeared on the Maine ballot to provide similar funding for the state’s colleges and universities failed, but Pattenaude said supporters are working even harder this time around to raise awareness of the importance of the issues and to be more visible to voters.

“Universities can’t do it alone, and Maine has the capacity to do this right now,” Pattenaude said. “We do not plan to fail. This is too important to Maine.”

“I know of nothing on the horizon that’s as important to the state as these two questions,” Kennedy added.

Question Three: Bond Issue

Do you favor a $43,500,000 bond issue for interior and exterior building renovations, improvements and additions at all campuses of the Maine Community College System, the Maine Maritime Academy and the University of Maine System; to replenish the School Revolving Renovation Fund for school repairs and renovations; and to support capital improvements for cultural and educational assets such as museums, historical facilities and libraries?