CSC moves ahead with 1st phase of Charger Center

The first phase of the Carl Sandburg College Charger Center in Carthage is inching toward reality.

Carl Sandburg College president, Tom Schmidt, was speaker at the Hancock County BizLink breakfast in Warsaw Tuesday (Nov. 18).

The college board is prepared to front the money for the renovations of the auditorium, the first of three facilities in the proposed center on the former Robert Morris College campus in Carthage, now owned by Prairieland Investment Group.

“The CSC board and accountants have looked at the college's debt structure. With some reorganization, the board is prepared to front the $2.34 million estimated cost of renovating the auditorium without an increase in taxes,” Schmidt said.

CSC proposed the Charger Center last spring, antici-pating the costs would be shared by several entities that would use the facility. It could include a gymnasium and fitness center as well as the renovated existing auditorium. (Carl Sandburg College athletes are called “Chargers” as are the athletes from Illini West High School.)

The college anticipates financial involvement with Carthage Veterinary Service, local schools, Carthage Family Fitness, city groups and other organizations.

“None of us have enough need for that facility alone, but many people have a great need for some of it some of the time,” Schmidt said.

Instead of waiting for all stakeholders to come on board with the project, CSC is showing its commitment by starting on the first phase. If the board approves moving ahead at its December meeting, Schmidt believes the college could finalize the financial plan by April.

“We could start moving this summer. The first step would be to raze the classroom building that is attached to the west of the auditorium to make room for the gym and fitness center. We understand the value this facility would offer to the county. If this was a poker hand, the board is ‘all in' on this one,” he said.

Schmidt urged the business people gathered from many parts of Hancock County at the breakfast to pledge support for the Charger Center for their businesses or community organizations.

Carl Sandburg College would use the gymnasium, when built, for home basketball and volleyball games. He noted that the college is developing a performing arts curriculum. The auditorium, with seating for 600 to 700, is much larger than any auditorium on the Galesburg CSC campus.

Schmidt said he believed it was important to put capital investment into this part of the Carl Sandburg College district.

“Local tax dollars make up 28 percent of the college's income, and 17 percent of our local tax money comes from Hancock County, out of 10 counties in the district. Only Knox County (Galesburg) is higher,” Schmidt said. John Huston of Carthage, current president of the CSC board, and board member Mike Bavery, also of Carthage, were also at the breakfast.

Schmidt began his talk, describing ways that Carl Sandburg College is “putting the community back in community college.”

Schmidt highlighted some features and services of the college:

Edunet - a wireless internet connection that covers the whole college district.

Dual Credit - a system that allows high school students to take CSC classes and earn college credit while still in high school.

Tuition rate guarantee - a plan that locks in the price a student pays per semester hour for three years. This carries on if a student transfers to Western Illinois University, locking in the WIU tuition price from when the student started at CSC. That guarantee moves even earlier for a high school student in dual credit classes.

Rolling labor agreement - a process of working on staff contract agreements at least two years in advance. Next September, they begin nego-tiations for the 2013-14 year.

Alternative energy - the board is checking into setting up a wind turbine to provide the campus energy needs, and as a lab for an alternative energy curriculum.