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News Release |
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CONTACT: Shannon Haber |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 30, 2022 |
Board Approves New Campus Accessibility Enhancements and Critical School Upgrades
Investing in our students with more than $121 million bond dollars at work
Los Angeles, CA (August 30, 2022) – The Board of Education today approved $47.8 million in campus accessibility enhancements at seven schools to ensure students and members of the community have equal opportunity to access programs and activities at these campuses.
In other continuing investments in Los Angeles Unified schools, the Board of Education approved 127 critical replacement and upgrade projects valued at over $73 million to address unmet needs and significantly improve the conditions of aging and deteriorating school facilities. Three Sustainable Environment Enhancement Developments for Schools (SEEDS) projects with a combined budget of $350,000 were also approved. These greening projects will enhance campuses by creating outdoor sustainable learning spaces that support the school curriculum.
Additionally, the Board approved more than $40 million in construction contracts for a classroom replacement project at Dixie Canyon Community Charter Elementary School that will replace aging portables with new classroom buildings and provide other site infrastructure upgrades, and accessibility improvements at Sunrise Elementary School.
“Our school bond dollars are hard at work,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “Research shows that academic success directly correlates with the quality of our learning environments, and investments into our schools will dignify and honor our students by making important campus improvements. Investments additionally benefit our communities by creating jobs, expanding the amount of available green space and increasing our energy efficiency.”
“We are proud to make these critical investments in our schools to ensure student safety and accessibility,” Board President Kelly Gonez said. “These projects will help ensure that our students learn and play on campuses that meet their needs, and I look forward to new capital projects that will expand their learning opportunities on our school sites.”
“We are committed to providing safe, innovative, and upgraded learning environments for our students to thrive,” Board Vice President Nick Melvoin said. “I’m thrilled to direct these investments to our school communities—including more than $7 million for critical repairs, secure entry systems, water bottle filling stations, classroom upgrades, and campus modernization efforts to benefit 26 schools in Board District 4.”
The seven approved accessibility projects further advance the implementation efforts of the Los Angeles Unified Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, a long-term plan that details District efforts to comply with the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Projects will proceed at 7th Street Elementary Arts Integration Magnet, Arminta Street Elementary School, Atwater Avenue Elementary School, Chatsworth Park Elementary Urban Planning California Distinguished Magnet School, Christopher Columbus Middle School, and Florence Nightingale Middle School, as well as one ADA barrier removal project at Glenn Hammond Curtiss Middle School. Each project reflects the improvements necessary to meet accessibility requirements and ensure a barrier-free learning environment.
The SEEDS projects at Manchester Avenue Elementary School, Sheridan Street Elementary School, and Park Avenue Elementary School will provide outdoor learning spaces that will facilitate educational programs related to nutrition, health, literacy, math and science and may also be used during recess and lunchtime by students. Manchester Avenue Elementary School qualified for additional funding as it ranks in the top 20% of schools most in need of greening. Under the SEEDS program, a school site 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 now available to schools ranked in the top 150, or top 20%, of the Los Angeles Unified Greening Index.
Critical replacement and upgrades projects approved today will provide new roofing at Clover Avenue Elementary School, Odyssey Continuation High School, Walter Reed Middle School, and Wiliam Howard Taft Charter High School; new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at Chatsworth Charter High School; new synthetic turf at Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools; slope remediation and new paving at Cowan Avenue Elementary School; and new secure entry systems at 120 elementary schools.
“Thank you taxpayers for investing in new roofs, HVAC systems, classroom buildings, improving access for students with disabilities and the greening of more campuses,” Board Member Dr. George J. McKenna III said. “In Board District 1, we are especially grateful for the outdoor learning spaces at Manchester Avenue Elementary School and the new roofing at Clover Avenue Elementary School.”
“Thank you, voters, for investing in our school communities. I am excited for the upgrades and changes coming to support learning,” Board Member Mónica García said. “We have seen student achievement and wellness increase as our facilities’ investments materialize throughout the Eastside. I'm proud to vote YES to enhancing learning environments!”
“School safety on and off campus is and will continue to be the District’s number one priority,” Board Member Scott M. Schmerlson said. “I’m glad to support this item that will allow us to upgrade and modernize our campuses so that we can provide the best school facilities with comfortable learning environments for all our students.”
“The people in Los Angeles, by word and vote, consistently want to invest in children’s education,” Board Member Jackie Goldberg said. “Today’s strategic investment in making schools accessible, modern, and ready for learning honors their will and is a huge win for kids.”
“I am excited that this Board approval will help improve our schools by upgrading facilities to help enhance our students' school environment,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “All of our students, staff and families should be able to access their entire campus and attend a school that makes them feel safe and secure.”
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Board Approves New Campus Accessibility Enhancements and Critical School Upgrades Investing in our students with more than $121 million bond dollars at work
Los Angeles, CA (August 30, 2022) – The Board of Education today approved $47.8 million in campus accessibility enhancements at seven schools to ensure students and members of the community have equal opportunity to access programs and activities at these campuses.
In other continuing investments in Los Angeles Unified schools, the Board of Education approved 127 critical replacement and upgrade projects valued at over $73 million to address unmet needs and significantly improve the conditions of aging and deteriorating school facilities. Three Sustainable Environment Enhancement Developments for Schools (SEEDS) projects with a combined budget of $350,000 were also approved. These greening projects will enhance campuses by creating outdoor sustainable learning spaces that support the school curriculum.
Additionally, the Board approved more than $40 million in construction contracts for a classroom replacement project at Dixie Canyon Community Charter Elementary School that will replace aging portables with new classroom buildings and provide other site infrastructure upgrades, and accessibility improvements at Sunrise Elementary School.
“Our school bond dollars are hard at work,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “Research shows that academic success directly correlates with the quality of our learning environments, and investments into our schools will dignify and honor our students by making important campus improvements. Investments additionally benefit our communities by creating jobs, expanding the amount of available green space and increasing our energy efficiency.”
“We are proud to make these critical investments in our schools to ensure student safety and accessibility,” Board President Kelly Gonez said. “These projects will help ensure that our students learn and play on campuses that meet their needs, and I look forward to new capital projects that will expand their learning opportunities on our school sites.”
“We are committed to providing safe, innovative, and upgraded learning environments for our students to thrive,” Board Vice President Nick Melvoin said. “I’m thrilled to direct these investments to our school communities—including more than $7 million for critical repairs, secure entry systems, water bottle filling stations, classroom upgrades, and campus modernization efforts to benefit 26 schools in Board District 4.”
The seven approved accessibility projects further advance the implementation efforts of the Los Angeles Unified Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, a long-term plan that details District efforts to comply with the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Projects will proceed at 7th Street Elementary Arts Integration Magnet, Arminta Street Elementary School, Atwater Avenue Elementary School, Chatsworth Park Elementary Urban Planning California Distinguished Magnet School, Christopher Columbus Middle School, and Florence Nightingale Middle School, as well as one ADA barrier removal project at Glenn Hammond Curtiss Middle School. Each project reflects the improvements necessary to meet accessibility requirements and ensure a barrier-free learning environment.
The SEEDS projects at Manchester Avenue Elementary School, Sheridan Street Elementary School, and Park Avenue Elementary School will provide outdoor learning spaces that will facilitate educational programs related to nutrition, health, literacy, math and science and may also be used during recess and lunchtime by students. Manchester Avenue Elementary School qualified for additional funding as it ranks in the top 20% of schools most in need of greening. Under the SEEDS program, a school site 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 now available to schools ranked in the top 150, or top 20%, of the Los Angeles Unified Greening Index.
Critical replacement and upgrades projects approved today will provide new roofing at Clover Avenue Elementary School, Odyssey Continuation High School, Walter Reed Middle School, and Wiliam Howard Taft Charter High School; new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at Chatsworth Charter High School; new synthetic turf at Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools; slope remediation and new paving at Cowan Avenue Elementary School; and new secure entry systems at 120 elementary schools.
“Thank you taxpayers for investing in new roofs, HVAC systems, classroom buildings, improving access for students with disabilities and the greening of more campuses,” Board Member Dr. George J. McKenna III said. “In Board District 1, we are especially grateful for the outdoor learning spaces at Manchester Avenue Elementary School and the new roofing at Clover Avenue Elementary School.”
“Thank you, voters, for investing in our school communities. I am excited for the upgrades and changes coming to support learning,” Board Member Mónica García said. “We have seen student achievement and wellness increase as our facilities’ investments materialize throughout the Eastside. I'm proud to vote YES to enhancing learning environments!”
“School safety on and off campus is and will continue to be the District’s number one priority,” Board Member Scott M. Schmerlson said. “I’m glad to support this item that will allow us to upgrade and modernize our campuses so that we can provide the best school facilities with comfortable learning environments for all our students.”
“The people in Los Angeles, by word and vote, consistently want to invest in children’s education,” Board Member Jackie Goldberg said. “Today’s strategic investment in making schools accessible, modern, and ready for learning honors their will and is a huge win for kids.”
“I am excited that this Board approval will help improve our schools by upgrading facilities to help enhance our students' school environment,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “All of our students, staff and families should be able to access their entire campus and attend a school that makes them feel safe and secure.” |
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