With the start of construction just days away, Allen Community College is hitting the pause button on what would be a $10 million career and technical education facility.
The decision came at the end of Wednesday’s monthly Board of Trustees meeting, after trustees were warned of potential state funding cuts.
The uncertainty creates “a rather large ‘what if,’” College President Dr. Lyvier Leffler told the Register Thursday.
Leffler said the college should know by next week its funding status.
But even if state funding is untouched, trustees remain wary.
“I still think it’s a good project, and we need to be doing something,” Trustee Corey Schinstock said. “I was a big advocate, but right now, I don’t know if it’s the time for this.”
Trustees were unanimous in voting to pause the project.
Construction will continue on a $3.6 million maintenance building, with that work having started months ago. Other infrastructure pieces, including a new road off of Cottonwood, also will continue.
TRUSTEES CHAIR Becky Nilges further elaborated on the decision after the meeting concluded, noting college officials have been getting hints since the start of the 2025 Kansas legislative session of potential funding cuts, particularly for CTE programs.
The Kansas Association of Community College Trustees, Nilges noted, is urging all colleges exercise caution with such projects.
“It’s not just us,” Nilges said.
When approved last April, trustees pegged the cost of the entire project, including the maintenance building, at about $12 million, to be paid out of the college’s reserve fund.
In subsequent months, estimates swelled to about $14 million.
Then came murmurs from KACCT, prompting the trustees to play it safe.
Pausing the construction project will not affect current CTE programs, Nilges noted.
In fact, trustees earlier in the evening approved a new course, principles of phlebotomy, and a phlebotomy practical curriculum that will become part of its Allied Health program.
