State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces $961 Million Approved for School Construction and Modernization
SACRAMENTO – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced that the State Allocation Board (SAB) awarded $961 million to 199 schools for the construction and modernization of school facilities. For the list of schools, please visit Home: Office of Public School Construction (Outside Source), keyword "SAB Agenda," click the "Specials" tab, then scroll to the page numbered 183.
"Our student population continues to grow while our aging classrooms continue to fall into disrepair," said O'Connell. "Thanks to voters who approved bond measures, students will soon have safer and more modern facilities in which to learn. Also, the approval by the State Allocation Board today will help stimulate our embattled economy by creating construction jobs throughout California. This is a win-win situation for the state."
California's public school population is expected to grow by nearly 61,000 students in the next five years. In order to keep up with the growth and deal with aging school facilities, the state will need to modernize 20 classrooms each day.
O'Connell is a member of the SAB that also approves final construction apportionments. The SAB is responsible for determining the allocation of state resources, such as proceeds from General Obligation Bond issues and other designated State funds used for the new construction and modernization of local public school facilities.
The SAB is also charged with the responsibility for the administration of the School Facility Program, the Charter School Facilities Program, the Overcrowded Relief Grant Program, the Critically Overcrowded School Facilities Program, the School Facility Joint-Use Program, the Career Technical Education Facilities Program, the Emergency Repair Program, and the Deferred Maintenance Program.
The SAB is the policy-level body for the programs administered by the Office of Public School Construction. The SAB meets monthly to apportion funds to school districts, act on appeals, and adopt policies and regulations as they pertain to the programs administered by the SAB. For more information on the SAB, please visit State Allocation Board(Outside Source).