Down to the wire: Referendum, trustees await voters’ decision

Jessica Hagendorn
Advertising/Marketing Director
The ATC Auditorium hosted a panel of moderated discussion between candidates running for two vacant seats on ECC’s Board of Trustees as well as about the upcoming District 509 Bond Referendum.

If passed, the referendum will provide ECC with $178 million, with $156.6 million going toward a new health careers center, a library and learning center, public safety training facilities for the region, a new multipurpose classroom center, and to renovate the Student Resource Center, which is the oldest building on campus.

The increase to tax payers will be minimal, with the tax level remaining below where it was five years ago. The property tax will be about 23 dollars more annually for those with property worth $200,000.

None of the money provided by the referendum would be used to pay for the operating costs of the new buildings; tuition increases, starting in 2011, will cover those costs.

As for the trustees, Both Robert Getz and Diane Stredde’s terms are ending, and while Stredde is not running for re-election on April 7, Getz is running to reclaim his seat, fighting newcomers Dr. Donna Schuring-Redmer, Rick Green, and Robin Lisboa.

At the panel each candidate was given ten minutes to introduce themselves to the audience. They also covered the most basic questions voters typically ask in that time slot: Why do they want to be part of the Board of Trustees? Can they put in the time? What would their strengths as a Board Member be?

“I just love ECC,” said Schuring-Redmer, a retired educator and ECC graduate herself. “It has given me the opportunity to develop my own career.”

Three of Redmer’s five children and her step-daughter have also graduated with degrees from ECC.

Green, also a graduate of the college, returned to teach in the automotive department and retired after 30 years. He’s now a part-time ECC student and takes classes with some of his former students.

“I try very hard to look at both sides of an issue, and ask the right questions of the right people,” Green said.

The incumbent Getz highlighted fiscal responsibility as a characteristic of a trustee.

“The reason I wish to continue to participate in the role of Trustee is to assist the college in supporting our state and nation as it recovers from the current financial crisis,” said Getz.

If reelected, Getz would enter his second six-year term. He said one of his goals for his second term is to build a ten-acre complex near the golf course adjacent to ECC’s main campus where soldiers can live with their families while attending ECC.

Lisboa is a local educator. She was the Director of Project S.T.E.P., has taught at both the elementary and college levels, and is currently a public policy administrator for the state.

“I want to be an ECC Trustee because I want to ensure my community provides every individual, who chooses to pursue a post-secondary education, the opportunity to attend an institution that is accessible, supportive and committed to helping them complete their educational goals,” said Lisboa.

After introductions, the floor was opened up to questions from the audience. The students did not ask questions of the candidates, but the faculty and staff had a lot they wished to know.

“What should [ECC] stop doing?” Sarah Dye, President of the Faculty Union, asked. “What should we continue doing? What should we start doing?”

Redmer had some very specific answers on what the college needs to do to improve, such as the need to start working with students as young as fourth-graders.

“There was a heavy concentration on [high school] seniors, and that’s way too late to get these students involved,” Redmer said.

ECC’s Director of Performing Arts Steve Duchrow wanted to know what the candidates’ views on acceptance into the college were.

“Does everyone have a right to education at this college or do we limit it to certain groups?” Duchrow asked.

“It’s a community college,” Getz replied. “It’s for the entire community.”