A total of 27 school districts – including Lake Washington School District (LWSD) – have been awarded $27.8 million for various school construction projects, superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn announced Sept. 9.
The money, part of $100 million in competitive energy grants provided by the 2010 Legislature, will be used for heating, ventilation, and air condition systems, repair and upgrade of controls, replacement of inefficient lighting and building envelop improvements. Many of the construction projects will be able to begin this fall, providing much needed jobs to all parts of the state.
LWSD received $1.9 million for HVAC upgrades and lighting improvements.
“This second set of grant awards for school building improvements continues to reach out to all areas of the state, and will result in more than $73 million in construction,” Dorn said. “Relatively simple things, like proper ventilation and adequate lights, can have a positive impact on student learning.”
In the first round of grant awards, announced in July, 22 districts were awarded a total of $14.5 million.
To qualify for the funds, school districts conducted audits of their school facilities to identify projects that could demonstrate guaranteed energy savings. The state money is being augmented with local “leverage” dollars.
School districts receiving these grants have estimated about $3.1 million in utility incentives for these projects.
Of the total $100 million provided by the legislature, OSPI will administer $50 million for K-12 public school districts. The state Department of Commerce will administer the other $50 million for K-12 public school districts and public higher education institutions.
OSPI has awarded more than $42 million of the $50 million in rounds one and two. About $7.5 million remains for the third round. The deadline for that round of applications is Oct. 22. The Department of Commerce’s round two application deadline is Sept. 20
For more information on the grants at OSPI, visit the School Facilities Web site, www.k12.wa.us/SchFacilities/Programs/EnergyImprovement/default.aspx.
