(Southwest Iowa) – Voters heading to the polls on November 5th in eight KJAN listening area counties, will find a Public Measure on their ballots for a $55-million Iowa Western Community College General Obligation, Bond Referendum. Iowa Western President Dr. Dan Kinney explains how the funds (if voters approve), will be used.

The space he mentioned may have welding in it during the morning, HVAC in the afternoon. Kinney says they can work with high school students, non-traditional/non-credit adult learners in late evening or afternoon, and they can work with business and industry when they need training/up-skilled learning for their workforce.

Kinney says 16-years or so ago, a majority (70%) of Iowa Western’s students were majoring in arts & sciences, 30% were there for a Career and Technical Education. Today, he says, it’s about a 50-50 mix.

He says with regard to the IWCC Atlantic campus, they tried this past Summer to set-up a welding program, but it just wasn’t feasible because of facility limitations and it would have resulted in an unacceptable learning environment.

He says they building – which started as a grocery store and was modified into a learning environment – needs to be modified again.

Kinney said the bond itself will have zero impact on the tax levy rate.

He says the college can do what it needs to do, without an impact on the tax base. Dr. Kinney says the college is in a good financial position because of increasing enrollment, and the bond is just a way of continuing to grow their centers as technology continues to change.