Add as a preferred source on Google

Education's Impact on Economic Development

  • By Dr. Jesus M. Gandara
  • 08/01/10
StartFragment

Education’s Impact on Economic Development

Passed in November 2006, Prop O is a school classroom, safety and repair measure providing $644 million in funds necessary to address the needs of the 32 campuses in the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD).

The fiscal impact of the bond measure to the economically impoverished area is immense. The district is wholly dedicated to maximizing the reinvestment of Prop O bond dollars back into the South Bay communities that have chosen to tax themselves to fund the much-needed modernization of the local schools.

 In addition to the qualified South Bay workforce, Prop O contractors have had the opportunity to meet with local South Bay construction suppliers and vendors, allowing for further bond dollar reinvestment in South Bay. Prop O has a dedicated outreach team that specifically works to create opportunities for local workers to participate on district projects. Among them, networking events between general contractors and subcontractors, as well as the Prop O Employment Expo, where general contractors on the project were available to speak with and accept applications from local construction workers.

Additionally, the SUHSD Board of Trustees laid the ground work for a long term vision of the environmental and economic impact of district facilities by adopting Board Resolution No. 3794, calling for green building practices to be employed where possible during Prop O construction. The district’s adopted resolution and commitment to green building have resulted in California’s largest LEED Gold-certified school district construction program in-design.

The economic impact of the district’s green building efforts will produce increased property values and a platform for the generation of tomorrow to excel. By implementing green features, students will learn first-hand the ways in which these technologies create a more sustainable community. This knowledge will be rooted in the future workforce of South Bay as they understand the importance of energy efficiency.

Dr. Jesus M. Gandara is the superintendent of the Sweetwater Union High School District in California.

EndFragment

Featured

  • University of Kansas Opens $400M Football Stadium Reconstruction

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently announced that the $400-million reconstruction of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is complete in time for the 2025 football season, according to a news release. The university partnered with Turner Construction Company on the project.

  • Different Starting Points, Same End Goal

    Higher education campuses can enhance student experience by implementing mobile credentials to streamline building access, on-campus payments, and access to other amenities. This enables students to connect to their campuses through the technology they use most: their mobile devices.

  • Image credit: O

    Strategic Campus Assessment: Moving Beyond Reactive Maintenance in Educational Facilities

    While campuses may appear stable on the surface, building systems naturally evolve over time, and proactive assessment can identify developing issues before they become expensive emergencies. The question isn't whether aging educational facilities need attention. It's how institutions can transition from costly reactive maintenance to strategic asset management in a way that protects both budgets and communities.

  • University of West Florida Opens New Laboratory Facility

    The University of West Florida recently announced that renovation work is complete on a new lab building for its campus in Pensacola, Fla., according to university news. Building 80 will serve as the home to the university’s civil engineering program and the Tyler Chase Norwood Construction Management Program.

Digital Edition