SCCC seeks $3M for repairs

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Goot

Schenectady County Community College is seeking $3 million to cover the cost of repairing damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene.

The college has made a request to the State University of New York for funding to recover from the late August flooding. The surging Mohawk River submerged the college’s parking lot off Washington Avenue. Water seeped into Elston Hall, flooding the copy and mail room. Water also flooded the basement of the Begley Building, forcing SCCC to delay the start of the fall semester by two days.

The state would pick up 50 percent of the cost and college officials are seeking FEMA aid to cover the local share.

Among the projects are repairing the fire alarm and security system in Elston Hall, fixing the elevator, replacing paving bricks and sidewalks and improving the landscaping.

Begley Building projects include repairing the fire alarm, security, electric and mechanical systems, and elevator, replacing concrete flooring, mortar joints, brick work and the main loading dock and landscaping.

Also, significant work is required to rebuild the running track and repair the softball and baseball fields and the road to the athletic fields.

The parking lot also needs work to repair surface cracks and the drainage systems, catch basins, piping, valves and pumps.

The total cost for the repair work is about $2 million. But college officials are seeking another $1 million to make drainage improvements to prevent flooding in the future.

SCCC President Quintin Bullock said the college and Schenectady County officials are working closely to obtain FEMA money.

In other business, the college is seeking to create two new programs. It has submitted to SUNY a proposed certificate program in medical coding and billing, which college officials hope to start in January.

The college is also proposing an associate degree in health information management to train people in the field of electronic medical records management. Successful graduates would be able to work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, insurance companies and other health care providers after completing the nine core courses and other liberal arts courses.

A start date for this program has not been set.

Both initiatives are part of the college’s expansion of health care programs. Last year, SCCC was awarded an $11.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to train people for health careers.

Board Chairwoman Denise Murphy McGraw said the college is responding to specific needs from local employers by creating these programs.

“New programs are exactly what keeps this college healthy,” she said.