Jul 24, 2008 3:44 pm US/Pacific
LAUSD Schools Will Receive Millions To Modernize
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
Dozens of Los Angeles County schools will be among the California campuses benefiting from about $236 million released by a state agency today for the construction and repair of schools facilities.
Twenty-two Los Angeles Unified School District campuses were on the list of schools approved for funding by the State Allocation Board, the policy- making arm of the Office of Public School Construction.
The schools collectively will receive more than $22 million in funding, which comes from Proposition 1D, approved by voters in 2006.
Other Los Angeles-area districts receiving funds are Bonita Unified,
Charter Oak Unified, Norwalk-La Mirada Unified, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified, Arcadia Unified, Bassett Unified, Keppel Union Elementary, Mountain View Elementary and Whittier Elementary.
In Orange County, Huntington Beach Union High School District received
$9.7 million for modernization work at Ocean View High School.
The Orange Unified School District received $92,152 for emergency repair work.
The State Allocation Board awarded $202 million to 79 schools and county offices of education for construction and modernization programs.
The board allocated $21 million in joint-use funds to 15 school districts throughout the state, supporting efforts to improve gyms, libraries and other facilities that benefit both students and members of the community, officials said.
Roughly $11 million in Emergency Repair Funds was included in the SAB
funding package.
"Even though our student population is leveling off, the need for new
and improved schools remains great because of the age of our facilities," said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, a member of the board.
"In the next five years, we need to build 16 new classrooms and modernize another 21 each day in order to provide safe and secure living
environments for our students," O'Connell said.
The state also allocated $15 million in Proposition 55 and 47 and general fund money for other projects throughout the state, including $1 million to address overcrowding at Central Region Elementary School .15 in Los Angeles.
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