Improved campus security and emergency preparedness training will be the top priorities this semester according to the Pierce College Council, which met for the first time this year on Thursday, Jan 22.
The college’s new emergency notification system will be operational in two weeks, according to Associate Vice President Larry Kraus. Pierce still plans to install security cameras on campus and increase the amount of emergency equipment available.
“We’ve made great strides in all of our emergency preparedness,” Kraus said.
The campus will also host Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, which teaches disaster response, first aid and search-and-rescue fundamentals. There are currently around 40 staff members enrolled in the training.
Construction at Shepard Stadium is expected to begin Jan. 26, and will last an estimated 180 days. The construction should be concluded in July, and the stadium is expected to be ready for use by the Brahmas in August, according to Project Deputy Director Andrew Ramsay.
On-campus telecommunication will get an upgrade starting in April, Ramsay said. The upgrades will take three months, and should be finished by the end of September.
“The network will be greatly improved as a result of this project,” said Ramsay.
The Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees recently approved a temporary motion to allow food trucks to return to campus. In their previous agreement, the food trucks paid $50 per-day to operate on campus. They now pay $100 per-day.
Pierce President Kathleen Burke said the rates were not decided by Pierce, but rather by the Board of Trustees. Burke said the campus is not looking to turn a profit, but rather to simply break even.
Pierce also plans to update its official seal. The PCC said it will contract the graphic design department, to allow students in that program to contribute ideas for the replacement.
The next PCC meeting is Thursday, Feb. 26, in the CSB Conference Room from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
