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Political races may determine bond's fate
Officials spar over • nursing • expansion
By Donnie Boyle THE TELESCOPE
By John Asbm·y THE TELESCOPE
The nursing program will expand one way or another, said Director of the Nursing Department Judy Eckhart. However, the expansion has stirred debate among faculty members and administrators. The timing and method regarding how it will happen was the focus of discussion and controversy at the Faculty Senate's Sept. 19 meeting. At the center of the debate was the use of Contract Education, an instructional service operation, independent of the college. Eckhart said the service would bypass the official college hiring process and the Faculty Senate by hiring full-time faculty on a temporary, non-tenured basis. "This is as big an issue the senate has ever dealt with," said Faculty Senator Bob Gilson. "It's like creatHUGH COX I THE T£U SCOPE ing a new species." The Nursing Department is in the S1udents Marion Boyer (left) and Sonovia Clar1< are part of Palomar's rlll'sing prorfam. College final year of a four-year grant that officials are exploring ways to expand the program in order to meet rising demand for nurses. initially expanded the program's enrollment by 20 percent. Currently, the program the Nursing Department is looking for alternative serves 36 students per semester and has a waiting list methods to expedite the hiring of five additional of more than 350 students. full-time nursing instructors. Currently the proIn order to serve an additional 20 students, the gram employs nine full-time, and six part-time Nursing Department proposed adding classes that instructors. would be offered during evenings and weekends. Eckhart said her department must maintain a Nursing Department Director Judy Eckhart presented majority ratio of full-time instructors, as mandated the expansion proposal to the governing board during by the Board of Registered Nursing. its May 10 meeting. The expanded program is scheduled to begin in Eckhart said the expansion would allow students fall 2006 and would cost an additional $209,500, more clinical hours at area hospitals, which are critical including $180,000 to cover the cost of faculty, to completing the program and are usually hard to find. according to a proposal submitted to the governing ''There's a huge need for nurses · right now. Doctors at board and college president Robert Deegan. every hospital are projecting major shortages," Eckhart said. While college officials recently finalized 15 new full• SEE NURSING, PAGE 13 time faculty positions for the 2006-2007 school year,
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With Palomar College officials planning to pursue a potential $400 to $800 million bond measure, next year's state and local political races could be a determining factor in how those plans move forward. Among the decisions facing district officials are how much money to ask for, what projects to include and whether to place the bond on the ballot in June or November of 2006. The last question may be the most crucial. "We have to be very concerned about this decision," said governing board president Nancy Chadwick. ''We have a lot riding on this." In June, primary elections for governor, the US Senate and the 50th US Congressional District will be held. The race to fill Randy (Duke) Cunningham's seat • SEE BOND, PAGE 12
Changes on tap for Escondido Center By l\1att Null THE TELESCOPE
With more than $250,000 worth of upgrades under way, the Palomar College Escondido Center will soon have a new look. Improvements include a new wing that was once rented to several businesses. The wing, which will be called the 800 wing, will include six state-of-theart classrooms that will be used for non-credit classes such as beginning English as a Second Language and water coloring. The Escondido campus, which has an enrollment of 4,719, was originally built in 1979 as a strip mall and was bought by Palomar College in the late 80s. The classrooms cannot be used for credit classes because they are not Field-Act approved. The Field Act, which covers grades kindergarten through • SEE ESCONDIDO, PAGE 14
Fallbrook plans take shape By John Asbury THE TELESCOPE
After several months of review and planning, college officials were presented with their first preliminary plans for an 80-acre campus in Fallbrook. However, as the layout currently stands, certain aspects of the design will have to go, said governing board president Nancy Chadwick. The governing board is in its final stages of examining the property. Members have studied the development of a campus on the northeastern corridor, where Interstate 15 meets Highway 76.
CORPSE BRIDE
Anillllllion and thllllltlet f design is dllssk Tim But1on. ·
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During an Aug. 30 presentation, at a special governing board meeting, the Irvine-based architectural firm, LPA Inc., showed the perspective layout of the site. Palomar purchased the property last June from San Diego developer Passerelle LLC for $52 million. However, the purchase of the land and the development of the site are contingent on the passage of a bond measure that is planned to appear on a 2006 ballot measure. About 20 percent • SEE FALLBROOK, PAGE 7
COURTESY MAP
Plans for a 52-acre campus in Fallbrook were presented to the governing board Aug. 30. Officials said the site's odd shape presents several challenges. The campus could open in 2010 and eventually serve 10,000 students.
DISCOUNT PARADISE Ahow-to guide lor students tnwelling to Cos1ll Rit11 on 11 budget.
Comets dominate San Bernardino Valley.
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