For over eighty years, College of the Sequoias has helped local residents
receive career training – from nursing and law enforcement to architecture –
prepare for transfer to a four-year university, and enhance their lives through
life-long learning. District
residents attend COS ranging in age from high school through retirement.
Students gain degrees, certificates and transfer to four-year universities and
it is time we supported this important educational center.
In addition, College of the Sequoias
produces 75% of all nurses in health
care facilities in Tulare County. With Measure I, we can fund the equipment
needed in the nursing program and provide ongoing training for our nursing
professionals via a partnership with area hospitals.
To date, every improvement to the campus has been funded by the State of
California. In other words, there
has never been a local bond passed for the Visalia Campus.
In fact, the only time that a local bond was passed in the District was
in 2006 when Hanford area residents passed a SFID (like the one that is on the
ballot this November for Visalia) for the new Hanford Campus.
The average age of the Visalia campus facilities is over 30 years old.
By the State’s own standards, our campus is so outdated and lacking in
facilities, it is eligible for $47 million in State grants, but a local match is
required. We can no longer count on
the State to fund the expansions and repairs our aging campus needs because of
the new State model. The money is either not available or requires a local
match, which the College cannot afford through the regular budget.
The COS Board of Trustees has approved a bond for the November 4 ballot. This
bond will fund much-needed improvements so that the College can continue to be
an affordable, accessible source of quality education and career training today,
and in the future.