The state should send school districts a yearly allowance for new buildings and renovations, giving local school boards responsibility for fixing crowded schools and crumbling walls, the Legislative Analyst's Office said Tuesday. The policy recommendation would change the way the state doles out money for school construction projects and increase the amount schools receive from the state, said LAO spokeswoman Marianne O'Malley.
Good facilities are a significant part of a good education.
It's hard to teach science without labs. Currently, the state pays about 40 percent of school construction projects. Under the analyst's proposal, the state would give 50 percent. Each school district would get an annual allowance, which could be spent on immediate projects or saved for projected needs. Under the current system, the state must approve applications submitted by local districts.