This is a continuation of Stephen Willson’s critique of the $42 million health club/classroom expansion proposed by the McHenry County College Board.
Proposition 3: But Centegra’s new hospital in Huntley will create a lot of jobs.
Response: Centegra will fill those jobs before MCC’s new program produces graduates.
Centegra Hospital plans to open a new 128 bed hospital in Huntley in 2016. MCC’s own timeline for this project shows their new, expanded program opening the winter semester of 2015.
The first students will graduate from the proposed new program after Centegra has finished its initial hiring.
Proposition 4: MCC’s students can work in the surrounding counties.
Response: Other area community colleges all have their own health sciences programs.
When challenged to justify a program that is projected to produce students far in excess of local demand, MCC President Vicky Smith said, “There will be jobs not only in McHenry County, but in Kane, Cook, Boone and Lake Counties. We would have some programs that no other community college has in our surrounding area.”
This is false.
Every neighboring community college has a health sciences program.
Elgin Community College offers certificate and degree programs in
- nursing (RN),
- nurse’s assistance,
- lab technology,
- phlebotomy,
- histotechnology,
- surgical technology,
- radiography,
- dental assistant, and
- physical therapy.
They have about 1,000 students in their programs.
Harper College has eleven different programs with over 1,000 students.
Rock Valley Community College offers programs in nursing, dental hygiene, surgical technology and respiratory care.
It is unrealistic to expect surplus graduates of an ambitious program at MCC to find jobs in neighboring communities.
The marketing presentation does not address other area community college programs at all.
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The following are running for the three open spots on the McHenry County College Board:
- William Scott Alford, Wonder Lake, received December 19
- Chris Jenner, Cary, received December 26, 2012
- Carol Larson, Harvard, received December 17
- Erik Sivertsen, McHenry, received December 26, 2012
- Mike Smith, Village of Lakewood, received December 17
- Molly Walsh, Crystal Lake, received December 21
- Barbara Walters, McHenry, received December 26, 2012
- Arne Waltmire, McHenry, received December 17
- Thomas Wilbeck, Lakewood, received December 26, 2012
Incumbents are Carol Larson and Barbara Walters.
Rest assured I shall ask each whether they will vote to sell bonds without asking voters for permission first.
More tomorrow.
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See Part 1 here.
See Part 2 here.
See Part 3 here.
See Part 4 here.