AFT says it will kick in up to $15 million in financing for upgrades to Oregon schools | OregonLive.com

AFT says it will kick in up to $15 million in financing for upgrades to Oregon schools | OregonLive.com:

AFT says it will kick in up to $15 million in financing for upgrades to Oregon schools

Published: Thursday, November 10, 2011, 5:10 PM Updated: Thursday, November 10, 2011, 5:32 PM

By Michelle Cole, The Oregonian

Oregonian file photoGov. John Kitzhaber's "Cool Schools" initiative won bipartisan support in the 2011 Legislature. So far, several rural school districts have applied for help financing projects.

The American Federation of Teachers is promising to invest as much as $15 million in Oregon's "Cool Schools" initiative.

According to a release from Gov. John Kitzhaber's office Thursday, the union and Ullico, a union-owned financial services company, have formed a new partnership to help provide financing for Oregon schools to fix leaky roofs, install more efficient heating and lighting and other upgrades.

A Kitzhaber initiative, Cool Schools passed the 2011 Legislature by