Purchasing five new trucks for the Odessa College trucking program was discussed during an OC Board of Trustees workshop Wednesday in the Wood Math and Science Building.
No votes were taken because it was a workshop. The items will brought back for a Feb. 28 board meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Zant Room of the Saulsbury Campus Center.
The Permian Strategic Partnership announced a $3.5 million donation to the OC trucking program in January.
The trucks will cost $1,022,876.87 million and be purchased locally from Rush Truck Centers, Vice President of Administrative Services Ken Zartner said. It will take about 12 months to receive them.
Meanwhile, Zartner said PSP will provide trucks. The program currently has seven trucks, some of which are on regional campuses.
Vice President of Advancement, Business & Governmental Relations Jacqui Gore said the program has about 180 students currently and the grant will allow them to add 100 students annually, not only at the main campus but satellite locations as well.
“This is another great example of Permian Strategic Partnership pouring into Odessa College students. They’re going to us now asking us to partner with them to meet the workforce needs in the Permian Basin, so this will give more students in the area an opportunity for those high-skill, high-wage jobs in the truck driving industry,” Gore said.
Another reason PSP approached Odessa College is because they do have such a high quality program, Gore added.
Trustees also discussed purchasing a medication dispensing system and buying property at 201 Cummings Drive.
The simulation medication dispensing system will cost $141,794 and go into the new health sciences building now under construction.
Zartner said this is the same sort of equipment they have at Medical Center Hospital and OC will take delivery closer to the time of the building opening.
The price of the property at 201 Cummings Drive is $150,000.
The Texas Commission on Community College Finance is also requesting that community college boards pass resolutions in support of additional funding for their recommendations.
The board discussed that as well.
Board Chair Gary Johnson said the commission has requested $600-650 million.
Johnson said Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick back the recommendations.
