STEM building funding faces hurdles

PANAMA CITY — Though a local lawmaker has talked to the governor until he’s “blue in the face,” Gulf Coast State College may have an uphill battle to fund a new STEM building.

Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his 2013-14 budget recently, which carried no specific dollars for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) construction projects at state colleges. Last year, the governor vetoed $14 million for a new Gulf Coast STEM building.

Scott’s current proposal includes $20 million to fund new state college STEM buildings — $20 million more than last year’s proposal — but names no schools or buildings. If the Legislature includes the appropriation in its final budget, Gulf Coast will be competing against 27 other state colleges for the money.

At 55 years old, the current STEM building is “outdated” and “unsafe,” said Jim Kerley, the school’s president. The $20 million wouldn’t be “very much” to go around, though the project would qualify for funding, he said.

Kerley described the new facility as the college’s “missing piece.” He said the labs are essential for science education and other hands-on learning that can’t be done online.

The Bay District School Board and superintendents for the Gulf and Franklin County school districts endorsed the project. The Bay County Chamber of Commerce also listed it as a “top three project” for growing the area’s STEM-related jobs, Kerley said.

“I’m very optimistic we’ll still get something,” he said.

‘I’ll look at it’

But Kerley doesn’t have the governor’s ear. He hasn’t spoken with Scott since he visited in July and toured the college’s Advanced Technology Center. Kerley said he pleaded his case during the tour and the governor “seemed open,” asking for more information.

The governor hasn’t taken a position on the building, though, aside from vetoing the $14 million last year. After the tour in July, he dodged questions on future funding, saying only, “I’ll look at it.”

In response to an interview request Friday, the governor’s press office passed off questions to the Division of Colleges, which offered no position on the building.

“While we do not have a list of individual STEM construction priorities, Gov. Scott is completely committed to investing in this important area,” the statement from the Division of Colleges said.

State Rep. Jimmy Patronis, however, is close to Scott and in tune with his thought process. He said Scott takes a private-sector approach when spending public dollars and is interested in the metrics — return on investment, jobs created and student population increases.

Patronis, R-Panama City, was skeptical about using the same tactics as last year, when the Senate’s initial budget carried only $300,000 for the building, but then the funding ballooned to $14 million in the budget conference committee, after Senate President Don Gaetz, whose district includes Panama City, inserted the last-minute money.

“I’ve talked to (Scott) until I’m blue in the face about it both last year and educating him (on) it this year,” Patronis said, but the governor, “as he should,” won’t commit.

It’s too early in the legislative process for the governor to take a position because other more pressing statewide issues may crowd it out, Patronis said.

“He’s playing it safe,” he said.

Grassroots approach?

Faculty, teachers and students can send letters and make phone calls to the governor’s office and try to convince him the project is worthwhile; locals would be surprised how seriously the executive office takes grassroots support, Patronis said.

“The governor doesn’t like making anybody upset. The Legislature doesn’t like making anybody upset. … We like to make people happy. You add that on top of an election year; we really want to make people happy,” said Patronis, who is term-limited in 2014.

Patronis also said Gaetz, R-Niceville, is the “key player” to land the funding again because he sets the Senate agenda. Gaetz could not be reached for comment Friday.

Landing the funding could be Kerley’s last major accomplishment at Gulf Coast. He’s set to retire at the end of July, having served as president since 2007. A second and final governor’s rebuff could be frustrating.

“I just don’t see how you can miss our need here of [replacing a] 55-year-old facility that’s totally outdated. … It’s a foundation for all our courses and programs,” he said.