Federal Legislative Advocate Robert P. Canavan Federal Management Strategies, Inc. Voice: 202.462.5911 -- Fax: 202-986-4569 Executive Director Anna Ferrera Murdoch, Walrath & Holmes Voice: 916.441.3300 -- Fax: 916.441.3893 Co-Chairs Terry Bradley, Clovis USD Sandi Burgoyne, Poway USD Vice-Chair Eric J. Hall, Eric Hall & Associates Secretary-Treasurer John Snavely, Porterville USD Board Members Jeff Baratta, Piper Jaffray & Co. Erik Blum, Los Angeles USD John Dominguez, School Site Solutions, Inc. Bruce McDaniel, Lennox ESD Susan Ryan, NTD Architecture Members California Financial Services Capistrano Unified School District CDE/School Facilities Planning Division Clovis Unified School District Coalition for Adequate School Housing Corona-Norco Unified School District Division of the State Architect Dougherty + Dougherty Architects LLP Elk Grove Unified School District Federal Management Strategies Inc. Gonzalez Architects Hanford Elementary School District Lennox Elementary School District Lodi Unified School District Los Angeles Unified School District LPA Inc. Murdoch Walrath & Holmes NTD Architecture Orange County Department of Education Poway Unified School District Redlands Unified School District Salida Union School District San Dieguito Union High School District San Joaquin County Office of Education San Luis Obispo County Office of Education School Advisors School Facility Consultants School Site Solutions, Inc. Stockton Unified School District Stuart & Associates Sundale Union Elementary School District Telacu Construction Management Terra Bella Un. Elementary School District Tulare Co. Supt. of Schools Virco Mfg. Corporation WLC Architects Inc. December 8, 2008 President-Elect Barack Obama Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Project 451 6th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20270 SUBJECT: Economic Stimulus: School Modernization, Renovation & Repair Dear President-Elect Obama: Californians for School Facilities (CSF) is a statewide coalition working to build federal support for state and local efforts to repair and modernize our public schools. Multiple studies show that safe and modern schools are linked to improved academic performance, teacher retention and job creation. As you prepare an economic stimulus package for consideration by the 111th Congress, CSF asks that the school modernization, renovation and repair initiatives such as HR 3021, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act and HR 2470, The America's Better Classrooms Act be included. Stimulus funding for school modernization will help states meet local community school facility needs by providing resources to repair, renovate and modernize America's schools while promoting green standards. Equally important, funding will stimulate the creation of more than 100,000 new jobs nationally in construction-related services. California has more than $300 million in unfunded emergency repair projects and more than $1.5 billion in approved but unfunded deferred maintenance projects in five-year plans. California school districts and county offices can have $300 million in school repair projects under contract in three to six months once the funds have been allocated to the school districts. Quick administrative action by federal and state agencies will speed the process. For example, HR 3021 requires the Department of Education and state agencies to process the funding within 30 days. California also has a need of $9 billion for new school construction funds and $3.4 billion in modernization needs, in addition to the deferred maintenance. The stimulus funding adopted in the House Stimulus Package, H.R. 7110, set a formula grant program to award funds for local school district school construction and modernization. School districts in California would use these grants for repairs, renovations, environmental improvements and for developing energy efficient systems in schools. We can also build on the highly successful Qualified Zone Academy Bond program which has been well-utilized in California. CSF urges that school facilities be included in the domestic economic stimulus program. We greatly appreciate your interest in the education of children in California and your support for initiatives to help local communities undertake projects to renovate, repair and modernize schools. Thank you again for your interest in students, schools and teachers in California. Sincerely, Anna Ferrera