Local school systems could benefit significantly from a bill circulating through the Senate that advocates spending $1.6 billion in federal dollars for public school building upgrades.
The motivation of the legislation — which was authored by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., and others — is to lessen the burdens on cities and counties when it comes to facility improvements.
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Mikulski spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz said influxes of students to certain communities spurred bythe Base Realignment and Closure Act also are behind the proposed funding.
Grants would go toward fixing crumbling schools that are either in rural areas or considered to be in serious need.
Also as part of the bill, the Government Accountability Office would have to conduct a report on school facility spending as well as to come up with an updated figure on how much it will cost to bring all schools into good condition.
Until the Public School Repair and Renovation Act is adopted into law, it’s unclear how the money would be split. But most jurisdictions in the metro Washington region — including D.C. — will be eligible for funds, Schwartz said.
” ‘In need’ is something we can argue for most of these areas,” she told The Examiner.
So far, the legislation has been assigned to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for review. Schwartz said it’s unclear if it will be considered in the next month or two.
“But it will be taken up before the Senate recesses for the year,” she said.
According to the 2005 American Society of Civil Engineers Report Card, public school facilities across the country received a D for quality. And the U.S. Department of Education, in its last estimate, stated that the average age of U.S. public school buildings was 42 years.
