Governor Releases Millions More in School Construction and Maintenance Funds
-- John Mooney,, New Jersey Spotlight

New Jersey: July 29, 2010 -- Add nearly 200 more school districts to the list of those receiving state school construction funds, as the administration of Gov. Chris Christie continued to roll out construction and repair money following a halt to the program earlier this year. But New Jersey’s urban districts still face a wait of at least several more months, with an administration spokesman saying it will likely be end of October before a review of district needs is completed. The Governor announced that $270 million in additional funds will be made available to 177 districts for 740 separate maintenance and construction projects. Another $16 million was provided to six vocational districts. All the projects will need to go through final reviews to secure the state funding, which will account for up to 40 percent of the total cost. This was the third round of new projects getting the go-ahead since Christie resumed school construction funding in May with a $500 million infusion of new borrowing.

D.C. seeks developers for old Bruce Monroe Elementary School site
-- Michael Neibauer , Washington Business Journal

District of Columbia: July 28, 2010 -- The District has issued a solicitation of proposals for redevelopment of the 121,000-square-foot Bruce Monroe Elementary School site on Georgia Avenue a half-mile from the Columbia Heights Metro station in the city’s Park View neighborhood. Bidders must provide two proposals, one for a development that would include a new school and commercial construction, and another for commercial construction only but where the money captured in the property’s sale would be reinvested in the modernization of Bruce Monroe Elementary at Park View, where students of the shuttered Bruce Monroe school now attend. The solicitation said it’s seeking bidders “who have the creative vision, demonstrated experience, and organizational and financial capacity to plan and develop a world-class educational facility and mixed-use commercial development on the property.” The school property is bounded by Georgia Avenue NW to the east, Irving Street to the north, Columbia Road to the south and single-family residences to the west. The site currently houses an interim park. A new Bruce Monroe Elementary School must be at least 75,000 square feet. If a proposed development includes residential, a minimum 30 percent of the units must be designated affordable — half to households earning at or below 30 percent of the area median income, and half to households earning at or below 60 percent AMI. The solicitation was issued Monday. A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for Aug. 10 and proposals are due by Oct. 14. There was no timeline listed for selection of a developer.

WFISD tentative about $12M loan
-- Ann Work, Times Record News

Texas: July 25, 2010 -- A bond program that would lend $12 million in no-interest money to Wichita Falls ISD sounded like a proposition worth considering when Kevin Goldstein, president of American National Bank and a Wichita Falls Independent School District board member, heard about it this spring. He mentioned it to the rest of the WFISD board in a June 21 board meeting, and all agreed in a 7-0 vote that it would be worth the time to submit an application for the maximum dollars available to WFISD — $12 million — even though the June 30 deadline was just days away. Filing the application would not commit the district to borrowing the money, stressed Tim Turner, WFISD chief financial officer.

Shelby schools hope 3rd try a charm for bond issue
-- TERRICHA BRADLEY, News Journal

Ohio: July 25, 2010 -- In his seven years at Shelby Middle School, Principal Tim Tarvin has learned to deal with the building's crumbling structureTaking the News Journal on a tour Saturday morning, he pointed to walls in the basement and first floor that show remnants of 2007's devastating flood. The basement smelled of mildew and the floor was slippery after Friday night's rainfall. The goal, school officials say, is to move the middle school and Central School Intermediate away from the flood plain where they now sit. The structural problems aren't limited to the damage done and likely will be done by persistent flooding. The middle school, after all, is 86 years old and the Central school for fifth- and sixth-graders is 59.

Menasha schools may get additional upgrades
-- Michael King, Post-Crescent

Wisconsin: July 25, 2010 -- Menasha school officials are considering another $150,000 in capital improvements after bids for two large roof projects a came in lower than expected. The Menasha Board of Education last month delayed action on participating in a state program that uses stimulus funding to provide interest-free loans for capital projects. An amended borrowing resolution will be considered at Monday's board meeting.