TC Board approves capital improvement plan

The Texarkana College Board of Trustees approved the 2020-2021 capital improvement plan Monday to improve facilities and maintenance on campus.

TC’s multi-phase capital improvement plan, to be completed over a five-year span, was installed to enhance, upgrade and renovate facilities to meet state and federal ADA compliance standards as well as modernize instructional space.

TC president Jason Smith said coming in under budget from previous projects has allowed them to add more to the agenda.

“TC has a multi-phase capital improvement plan in place which spans several fiscal years,” Smith said. “This plan was previously approved by the trustees in 2018 and we have been working through it as we are able with limited available funds. We are pleased to learn that the first phase of the STEM building remodeling project has come in under budget allowing us to address a few more items on the existing deferred maintenance list.”

The total budget for the capital projects is $15 million, but there is a projected savings of approximately $1.3 million, mostly from the Guaranteed Maximum Price for STEM remodels coming in well below the architect’s initial projection.

A presentation displayed by TC controller Brad Hoover outlined the items due for updates and remodeling.

The Career Education Center, the CEC Annex for welding, the Truman Arnold Student Center, the Social Science building, the Academic Learning Commons and Palmer Library, and the Business and Computer Technology building are all to receive updates, upgrades or renovations.

The CEC, BCT and Student Center building are all to receive restroom renovations. The welding section of the CEC Annex will replace metal cladding and upgrade ventilation.

Flooring replacements are coming for the Student Center, CEC, and the Academic Learning

Commons and Palmer Library. The CEC and Social Sciences buildings are also to receive new furniture and modernized glass boards to replace chalkboards for Social Sciences.

“I know Kim (Jones), Dr. Smith, Donna (McDaniel) and all the deans have worked really close to try to decide and get a good list of what is most needed around campus, and to touch every area that we possibly could,” Hoover said during the presentation.

Hoover also said other capital items yet to be addressed with this plan are as follows:

■ Raising suspended ceilings in Social Science and BCT buildings

■ Expansion Tex America

■ Furniture for BCT

■ Furniture for second floor of library

■ Administration building restrooms

■ Health Science restrooms

■ Upgrades in Stillwell Theater Additionally, a hearing date of Aug. 17 was approved for TC to adopt the same tax rate as its current one: $.123081. Even though there is no increase or decrease, a hearing is required by the tax code.

Also discussed in the meeting were the fall 2020 class options. For more information, you can check out our story detailing those options at texarkanagazette.com/ news/texarkana/story/2020/jul/21/ texarkana-college-providing-students-multiple-class-options-upcoming-school-year/834963/