Harper board discusses how to use $353 mil. for improvements

Harper College officials continue to fine tune how they'll use $353 million for improvements to the school's Palatine campus.

Designers and architects attended a special meeting Wednesday afternoon with Harper's board of trustees to present the latest on school's master plan.

Funding for the work comes primarily from recently announced state funding and a 2008 voter-approved bond issue that generated $153.6 million for the college.

Officials broke down seven phases for the project, the first including improvements to the college's student center, considered a top priority.

Another proposal calls for a new main entrance to the college, which Harper President Ken Ender said would be a “grand statement for the college.”

Ender also said he'd like a meeting point which could contain the entire student population, if possible.

Board member Bill Graft suggested improvements be made to the gym for that purpose. There was discussion of altering the school's theater, increasing the seating from 400 to 1,200. Board member Richard Hoffman said he felt changes could hinder the intimacy of the existing theater.

Board members stressed that all improvements should keep safety in mind, and cited concerns about traffic in the college's from parking lots. Some also worried whether new parking lots would increase the distance students walk from their car to class.

Board member Laurie Stone particularly thought of senior citizens walking on ice.

“I think in the long run that will hurt attendance,” Stone said.

Despite the funding promised by the state, about $54 million, board members aren't counting on it and discussed how to alter the plan if they don't get the money.

“If we have to assume the worst that they've abandoned their priorities – the state – and fund us nothing, how much are we willing to reserve in our own funds?” Ender asked.

About $17 million of work already has taken place or is planned, Ender said, and the school is setting aside another $4 million per year for the next 10 years.

The master plan will likely endure future changes, but board members on Wednesday said the meeting was productive.

“We are making tremendous progress and we're understanding it,” said Board Chair Diane Hill.