The California State Allocation Board recently disbursed $923.8 million to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools for the construction and modernization of 377 schools, including a Turlock Unified School District $904,000 project at Roselawn High School.

"Our schools and California’s budget are in a state of financial emergency,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom 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.”

According to TUSD Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Mike Trainor, the funds for the Roselawn modernization came from a $7.725 million bond imitative known as Measure Y in 2007. Current Turlock High School projects are also being used with Measure Y funding.

Torlakson applauded the SAB’s quick action 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.”

To contact Jonathan McCorkell, e-mail jmccorkell@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.