"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to cut education by $1.5 billion next year will lean heavily on school districts' funds for campus maintenance and repairs.
The governor said he wants districts to cut central administration to avoid hits to the classroom, but a Bee analysis of the funds that Schwarzenegger considers 'central administration' shows the largest category is plant maintenance, covering everything from the salaries of electricians and plumbers to buckets of paint and boxes of nails."
School district administrators say cuts to facility maintenance and repairs would be devastating, especially for aging schools.
"Most of our schools are over 50 years old," said Trinette Marquis, spokeswoman for the Twin Rivers Unified School District. "Fifty-year-old buildings can fall apart really fast."
Education advocates say cutting facilities could reverse progress brought about by the landmark 2004 Williams v. California lawsuit settlement, which set standards for clean, safe schools.
"Most of our schools are over 50 years old," said Trinette Marquis, spokeswoman for the Twin Rivers Unified School District. "Fifty-year-old buildings can fall apart really fast."
Education advocates say cutting facilities could reverse progress brought about by the landmark 2004 Williams v. California lawsuit settlement, which set standards for clean, safe schools.
