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There was a need for something to
further the progression of Dallas, for something that would allow
the community to flourish.
Finally, in November of 1965 it happened.
When citizens approved a $15 million dollar bond proposal that
started the DCCCD and changed the face of Dallas.
El Centro was the first of the seven new
colleges brought into existence. The bonds made it the first
publicly financed junior college in the country. El Centro opened
for the fall semester of 1966, sixteen months after the bonds
were issued. The campus exceeded its enrollment goal by a little
under 2,000 students. Located in a building that was the Sanger
Brothers Department Store in downtown Dallas.
There was at first skepticism whether the
building would be stable enough to support the students who would
walk its halls. The words "do not lean on this post or bldg.
will collapse" were written on a pillar in El Centro's lower
levels.
Eastfield and Mountain View were the next
in line to open in fall of 1970. History professor Bob Sharp
was at Eastfield when the doors first opened in 1970.
"I remember when they were piling
up the dirt and just beginning to put some of the structures
up," Sharp said. "There were a lot of good staff members
involved in Eastfield's success."
According to Sharp, Eastfield had a positive
atmosphere with faculty and the student body working side by
side to create a suitable learning environment. "It was
a great place," Sharp said. "We used team work because
teachers and students were all in this together."
The DCCCD goal was to excel in education
and meet the needs of the community by focusing on the value
of teaching students. "They hired people who were passionate
for what they were doing," Sharp said.
The DCCCD was not the first organization
attempting to establish a junior college in Dallas. In March
1958, the Dallas Independent School District endeavor to start
a junior college system. Though well over 70 percent of the DISD
parents favored the idea, it would have had a negative impact
on the district's finances.
Later in 1962, the leaders of Richardson
developed a proposal to develop a community college in their
city. After being submitted to voters, the idea was turned down.
Richardson met all the legal requirements but voters felt that
the city should focus more on professional education than on
a junior college.
The bonds were issued because of the need
Dallas County had for a junior college. Dallas County Junior
College was the first of its kind voted into existence with a
$41 million dollar bond issue.
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