State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Funding
for School Construction and Modernization Projects
SACRAMENTO—The State Allocation Board (SAB) today disbursed $923.8 million to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools for the construction and modernization of 377 schools, said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.
"Our schools and California's budget are in a state of financial emergency," said Torlakson. "These funds will give districts some of the resources they need to construct or rebuild our schools, create jobs in the community to help the state's economic recovery, and provide students with more modern facilities that advance their academic achievement."
Torlakson applauded the SAB's quick action today to continue the successful and popular priority funding program created to fast-track school construction projects while at the same time stimulating the state's economy. The priority funding program requires school districts to have the project under construction within 90 days, versus the 18 months that is typically allowed.
"With my Schools of the Future initiative, we encourage districts to foster 21st century student learning by modernizing their facilities, which might include new technology, solar power, and other renewable power sources," Torlakson said. "Our students deserve to learn in schools that are clean, safe, green, and not in facilities that are relics of the past."
Torlakson is a member of the SAB, which determines policy for programs administered by the Office of Public School Construction. The activities include the School Facility Program, Charter School Facilities Program, Overcrowded Relief Grant Program, Critically Overcrowded School Facilities Program, School Facility Joint-Use Program, Career Technical Education Facilities Program, Emergency Repair Program, and the Deferred Maintenance Program.
The 10-member SAB meets monthly to determine 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 also acts on appeals regarding disagreements with the Office of Public School Construction, and adopts policies and regulations regarding SAB programs.
For information on the SAB, please visit the California Department of General Services Web site at State Allocation Board(Outside Source). For the complete list of the allocations, go to the December 14, 2011, agenda at December 14, 2011 Agenda (PDF; 12.3MB; 489pp.), click the "Action Items" tab, and then go to the page numbered 233. For more information on Torlakson's Schools of the Future initiative, please visit the California Department of Education's Web site at Schools of the Future Report (PDF; 1MB; 92pp.).
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100