The Board of Trustees authorized additional funding for the Humanities Swing Space Renovations project in a 6-1 vote Thursday.

In efforts to improve classroom equipment and safety, a proposal approved by the art department asked the Board of Trustees to consider a change order for the Humanities Swing Space Renovation project in an amount no higher than $213,567.43, payable from Measure V funds.

When the Humanities Building Improvements project received final approval in Feb. 2012, and classes were relocated to temporary classrooms across east and west campus, the Humanities Swing Space Renovations project was running on a compressed schedule. Construction needed to begin in April 2012 to have the swing space ready for summer classes.

“I need to emphasize and actually praise our staff for doing something in what I consider to be record time,” said Superintendent-President Dr. Lori Gaskin.

Swing space was finished before the summer term, but according to the proposal, there is still work to be done.

Funding will be used to improve temporary swing space classrooms.  Construction will include, but is not limited to, removing items from the Humanities Building and installing them into swing space rooms, removing classroom safety hazards, water proofing building exteriors, and installing new doors in multiple locations.

“I think the important point is, absent perhaps the science lab, art is the most complex facility to try and replicate,” said Gaskin. “And I think that’s an important thing to keep in mind when designing a swing space.”

Livingston was the only board member to oppose the change order at Thursday’s meeting.

“If you look at the size of the change order, it’s huge,” said trustee Joan Livingston.

Gaskin understands the magnitude of the order but isn’t surprised by its size.

“I am sorry that the change order is this magnitude,” she said.  “At the same time, given the complexity of the project, I probably would have expected a larger [budget].”

Morris Jurkowitz was absent from the Oct. 25 meeting.

The next scheduled regular Board of Trustees meeting will be held Nov. 15.