Washington, D.C., officials say they will halt renovations of 14 schools because the city council has not approved funds to continue the work. Most of the schools on the list are being converted to pre-K-8 and are designated to receive students from buildings that have been shuttered.
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EARLIER: School officials have warned the Washington, D.C., city council that failure to approve $83 million in building repair contracts could leave thousands of children in severely under-equipped schools or stranded altogether when classes begin Aug. 25. Work at many of the schools, which got underway when classes ended June 12, involves extensive plumbing and electrical repairs, including the installation of elevators in some buildings. All renovations were scheduled to be completed Aug. 15, 10 days before the start of the academic year.
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FROM JUNE 2008: School construction officials are facing sharp questions from the Washington, D.C., Council members about their request to issue $83 million in contracts to repair numerous schools, including 13 slated to become pre-K-8 campuses. Council members have tabled the request, saying that they were disturbed by the high fees charged by some contractors and that they needed more information. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray says he's concerned that using money from the $2 billion modernization fund would mean several schools, including Ballou High, Rudolph Elementary and Turner Elementary, would have to put off top-to-bottom renovations.
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