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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2023
Board of Education Approves Infrastructure Upgrades and Sustainable Green Outdoor Learning Spaces
Los Angeles, CA (April 18, 2023) – The Los Angeles Unified Board of Education today approved facility infrastructure upgrades, including charging infrastructure and new sustainable green spaces for outdoor learning as part of continuing efforts to advance the 2022-26 Strategic Plan.
A $2 million contract was approved for the construction of charging infrastructure at the Los Angeles Unified San Julian Bus Garage. The nine new dual electric bus charging stations will support 17 new electric school buses expected to join the San Julian bus fleet in January 2024 as the District works toward its goal of achieving a 100% zero-emission school bus fleet by 2040.
“As outlined in our 2022-26 Strategic Plan, Los Angeles Unified is committed to developing an ecologically-sustainable infrastructure that modernizes our resources while also reducing our carbon footprint,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “In the 2021-22 school year we updated our fleet with 11 new electric buses. Today we are reaffirming our commitment to bringing more electric buses to our transportation fleet with the installation of nine electric bus charging stations. This is only the beginning.”
“The Board has already established a goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2040, and the Greening Schools and Climate Resilience Committee is looking hard at electrifying all our buses even sooner, by 2035,” Board President Jackie Goldberg said. “This charging infrastructure is one of the most critical aspects of greening our bus fleet.”
"The addition of nine electric bus charging stations to support our 17 electric buses is another important step towards ensuring our communities have cleaner air, a reduction in noise and fighting climate change,” Board Vice President Scott M. Schmerelson said.
“The installation of electric bus charging stations is a positive step toward actualizing the District’s commitment to transition to clean energy by 2040,” Board Member Dr. George J. McKenna III said. “We hope additional opportunities come forward for us to accelerate the transition."
“As chair of the Green Schools and Climate Resilience Committee, I'm encouraged by this important step toward fleet electrification, and what it means for public health and air quality,” Board Member Rocío Rivas said. “The District has made important strides toward sustainability, and our committee will complement and propel that work by making sure local leaders such as Héctor Huezo of Jobs to Move America/Los Angeles County Electric Truck & Bus Coalition, have a seat at the table with the District."
“As LA Unified works to meet our ambitious sustainability commitments, we are continuing to invest in charging stations to make progress toward the successful electrification of our bus fleet,” Board Member Nick Melvoin said. “We will keep pushing the District to lead the way to a greener future for our kids, families, and school communities.”
“Los Angeles Unified is committed to electrifying our buses, which benefits students, bus drivers and the entire community,” Board Member Kelly Gonez said. “This project is yet more progress toward zero-emission transportation. I look forward to future work to transform our bus fleet, especially at the Sun Valley Bus Yard in my Board District.”
“I am proud to support our continued trajectory toward 100 percent clean, renewable energy through electrifying our transportation,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “It is critical that the District continues to expand its efforts to reduce our environmental impact by investing in charging stations in areas most impacted by environmental injustices.”
The Board of Education also approved a critical replacement and upgrade project at Pio Pico Middle School valued at $1.7 million. The project will provide approximately 68,500 square feet of new roofing, campus-wide.
Four Sustainable Environment Enhancement Developments for Schools (SEEDS) projects, with a combined budget of $500,000 were approved at Braddock Drive Elementary School (Braddock ES), Mayall Academy of Arts & Technology Magnet, Montara Avenue Elementary School (Montara ES), and Walter Reed Middle School. The projects will enhance campuses by creating outdoor sustainable learning spaces that support school curriculum. Braddock ES and Montara ES qualified for additional project funding as the schools rank in the top 20% of those most in need of greening. Under the SEEDS program, a school by itself, or in cooperation with a partner organization, may submit a SEEDS application to receive up to $100,000 to create or improve an outdoor learning space. An additional $50,000 (“SEEDS+” funding) is available to schools ranked in the top 150, or top 20%, of the Los Angeles Unified Greening Index.
For the most up-to-date information, please follow Los Angeles Unified on Twitter at @laschools and @lausdsup, Instagram at @laschools and @lausdsup and Facebook at @laschools and @AlbertoMCarvalho1.