COVID-19 continues to take its toll on America. Students of all ages will soon begin fall classes, and school officials are scrambling to ensure safety.

Education leaders appear to be in total agreement about how to deliver instruction. Students will be taught through both online and in-person classes. And, as preparations are made to implement every possible safety precaution, educational leaders will struggle to prioritize spending. Some schools will have huge funding issues while others will have more flexibility.

Community colleges have experienced massive support throughout the country over the past decade. Millions of students benefit from being able to take courses while managing jobs, families, and other responsibilities. High schools have partnered with community colleges to help young students participate in college courses before graduation. There is total consensus that community colleges contribute greatly in preparing individuals for jobs as well as careers that lead to course work at other institutions of higher education.

COVID-19, however, has definitely impacted community colleges. And, it is puzzling and sad to see that some community colleges have extremely dire financial issues while others are announcing new construction, expansions, and impressive collaborative initiatives with private-sector partners.

Community colleges in Wyoming have been forced to cut millions from their budgets. On June 27, the Northern Wyoming Community College District, as a result of budget cuts, announced major reductions to athletic programs. In a similar action, officials at both Gillette College and Sheridan College announced cuts that also include the elimination of sports programs. Such decisions are as painful for school officials and sports enthusiasts as they are for students.

Community college leaders in Michigan also are cutting budgets. Officials at Lansing Community College recently announced furloughs for employees, elimination of fall athletics, and suspension of the college's radio and television division. These cuts were made to address a $10 million budget deficit.

But, many other community colleges are expanding and have recently announced numerous types of capital improvement projects. These efforts provide encouragement for the future of education in our country.

Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Board of Education, in June, voted to approve a new community college in Erie County. Preparations will include naming board members, selecting a president and a campus site, and securing funding for construction projects. The county plans to use its share of casino gaming revenue for the community college and also contributed revenue from the Erie Community Foundation. Additional funding could come from the General Assembly of Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. There is excitement from all sources about the new school.

California - The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) on June 25 approved calling a $516.3 million school construction bond election for November 2020.

Various projects would repair and upgrade existing high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools, many of which are more than 50 years old.

If the bond election passes, the district intends to:

• Remove hazardous materials from older schools;
• Improve student access to instruction in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math;
• Retain and attract quality teachers;
• Upgrade schools to prepare students for high school, college, and careers;
• Repair leaky roofs, improve student safety with updated smoke detectors, fire alarms, and sprinklers, and provide safe drinking water; and,
• Adhere to specific fiscal accountability safeguards.

District staff suspended work on a facilities needs assessment in March, but the district's chief business officer said they have resumed their efforts and should complete the assessment in August. The facilities needs assessment could contribute to the development of an updated facilities master plan in September, which would be used to build a detailed project list.

Officials may form an independent campaign committee in early August and implement a campaign plan in September or October.

The district also will put a $60 million education technology proposition to voters on the November ballot. It has until August 6 to finalize ballot language.

Minnesota - Preliminary work to replace the 27th Avenue West bridge over Interstate 35 in Duluth is beginning ahead of the $343 million project to rebuild the Twin Ports Interchange where I-35 meets U.S. Highway 53 and Interstate 535.

The overall project goal is to lower I-35 to ground level and replace aging bridges at the interchange formerly known as the "can of worms." Once completed, the project will eliminate blind merges and left exits and better accommodate freight movements through the interchanges next to the Clure Public Terminal.

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) officials said they plan to open the solicitation for Twin Ports Interchange bids, including the 27th Avenue West bridge replacement, on September 11.

Construction is scheduled to start in November to replace the 27th Avenue West bridge with removal set for December and project completion expected by June 2021.

Work on the I-35 crossovers is planned to start on October 12 and end October 31. Other projects scheduled for fall and winter of 2020 are railroad work, demolition of the Autobahn Building, and construction of the bridge foundation.

Project completion is anticipated in 2023.

Hawaii - State legislators approved $90 million for new health and safety systems at several of Hawaii's airports. The bill, which passed both houses on June 26, will fund improvements designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

New technology will be added to Daniel K. Inouye International, Kahului, Ellison Onizuka Kona International, Hilo International, and Lihue airports with $18.5 million allocated to thermal screening cameras, facial imaging, and control rooms.

Lawmakers appropriated $17.5 million to fund 10 years of maintenance of the new systems, $5 million for verification rooms, and $4 million for an app that includes health forms and passenger verification information.

More than $23 million will go toward installation of the new systems, $17 million to service contracts, and $5 million to construction of passenger testing rooms at the airports.

Florida - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will award $44 million to the city of North Miami Beach to help finance the expansion and rehabilitation of its Norwood Water Treatment Plant.

EPA's Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) funding will cover almost half of the $90 million project that will improve water supply reliability, upgrade treatment and distribution systems, and reduce the frequency of pressure drops in the water distribution system and main breaks.

These improvements will allow the city to meet current and projected 2030 average daily demand and maximum daily demand.

The EPA has issued 24 WIFIA loans totaling $5.3 billion in credit assistance to help finance $11.7 billion for water infrastructure projects while creating 25,000 jobs.

Connecticut - The city of Danbury is seeking a professional planning consulting firm to prepare an update of its 2023 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).

In their request for proposals (RFP), city officials said Danbury is analyzing how to best manage its population growth with infrastructure, protect natural resources, make use of green building practices, expand affordable housing opportunities, define a transit future, assess new infill development opportunities, and promote the revitalization of its historic downtown.

The scope of services for the POCD Update includes preparation of all planning documents, studies, maps, and other relevant material; attendance at meetings with the POCD Oversight Committee, facilitation of discussion at these meetings, and review of work products and findings during the POCD plan process; and creation and management of the public engagement process.

Consultants also would present the POCD Update document and findings to the city's Planning Commission and possibly to the Danbury City Council, after which they would incorporate feedback and revisions into the final document.

RFP submissions are due by 2 p.m. July 14.