— Officials with Calhoun Community College plan to fast track a $34 million renovation and expansion of its Huntsville campus after receiving approval last week from the state board of education.

The board’s approval came nearly a year after a more elaborate expansion proposal was voted down. That proposal involved the $3.8 million purchase of 51 acres near Bridge Street Town Centre and at least $60 million in planned capital projects.

Published media reports indicate that members who voted against the previous expansion plan did so, in part, because they worried it could negatively impact Drake State’s future growth plans.

Calhoun’s proposal will involve a $15 million bond, with the remaining $19 million coming from the school’s capital project funds.

The school plans to build a 90,000-square-foot, three-story building to house student services, classrooms and labs at a cost of $20 million. It will also build a 1,000-space parking deck, estimated to cost $12 million. Façade updates and improvements to campus entrances and exits is expected to cost $2 million.

Calhoun officials estimate the enrollment at the Huntsville campus is 4,200 students. The expansion would accommodate up to 7,500 students.

While Calhoun officials are celebrating their growth in Huntsville, officials in Athens are concerned about what that could mean for Athens State University. The school, which has a healthy partnership with Calhoun, sees dozens of students complete their degrees at ASU each semester.

ASU spokesman Guy McClure said about 259 students who transferred from Calhoun graduated in the past year.

Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks is concerned an expansion in Huntsville could draw students away from the Limestone County campus, thereby leading to a dip in ASU’s enrollment.

“These students feed into Athens State, and there’s a concern for the future and Athens State as a revenue stream,” he said. “Where will students (on the Huntsville campus) go to school? Do they feed into (the University of Alabama in Huntsville) or Athens State University? (The expansion) is obviously a done deal, so the best we can do is to reach out (to Calhoun).”

State Rep. Dan Williams said “a potential” exists down the road for an impact on Athens State, but he’s also convinced the two schools’ relationship is healthy enough to continue to work together.

“Athens State has been the upper level for a lot of Calhoun students for a good while, and I’m hoping that number won’t draw off,” he said.  “We’ll still have a lot of students here at the campus in Limestone County, though some of them could go to the Huntsville campus.”

As Huntsville continues to make plans on annexed land in Limestone County, Williams said Calhoun’s plans in Huntsville may make some uneasy.

“When (residents) see Huntsville getting something, they wonder if it will be at the expense of Limestone County,” he said. “We wish Calhoun success in whatever building they want to do (in Huntsville), but we’re partial to (the Limestone campus).”

ASU President Dr. Bob Glenn said he’s not worried about Calhoun’s Huntsville expansion pulling students away from Athens. Just this month, doors opened to a new fine arts center in downtown Decatur that was as a cooperative project between the schools.

“I can’t imagine that students wouldn’t come to us because (Calhoun) improves their facilities in Huntsville,” he said. “There are a lot of folks up in the air about this, but in the long run, all Calhoun is doing is improving the footprint they’ve had for 20 years. It certainly doesn’t alarm us.”