By Shirlett Warren/editor-in-chief

TCC trustees came to a consensus Oct. 18 to establish a separate committee to develop a working strategy for the chancellor’s Institutional Plan.

Dallas design and consulting firm Boka Powell presented a $375 million proposal for the plan at the board workshop Sept. 22.

“[It’s a] very complicated plan and a very good one,” said board president Bill Greenhill.

Vice president Kristin Vandergriff, Gwendolyn Morrison and secretary O.K. Carter were appointed by Greenhill to implement a plan that is in TCC’s best interest.

Greenhill said he wants the committee to establish bylaws to outline its purpose in light of the Boka Powell proposal and other academic, real estate and financial prospects.

A committee could discern a number of finance options and determine which ones work best for TCC, Vandergriff said.

“There’s a sentiment … on the board that we’re going to be debt-free in a couple of years, and that’s something for us to celebrate,” she said. “But, then again, there’s the sentiment that borrowing money at this time is probably a good way to go.”

Greenhill said he wants the board to engage a financial adviser as the newly appointed committee moves forward.

“It’s not cheap to run an institution of this size,” Carter said.

Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley said the $375 million price tag was not a real number but an “idea.”

“If you want to position Tarrant County College District to be a place that continues to serve everybody that comes to us … you’re probably going to have to spend quite a bit of money to make that happen,” Hadley said.

She said weekend college, dual credit offerings and aligned projects are increasing, and South, NE and NW campuses are older facilities that must be maintained.

“This is certainly a huge project because it will chart the future of the institution,” Morrison said.