news-record.com

We got this press release today and I thought it might be of interest to some parents who've had issues at their school buildings in recent years:

Washington, D.C., August 18, 2009 – 21st Century School Fund, Healthy Schools Campaign, and Critical Exposure launched Through Your Lens, a photo and essay contest to highlight what’s great and what’s troubling about our nation’s public school facilities.

“Public school students and teachers are being held to high standards. They deserve school facilities that are healthy and safe and that support their school’s curriculum, programs and services,” states Mary Filardo, Executive Director of 21st Century School Fund.

Students, teachers and others with a view of school buildings are invited to submit photos and stories from Aug. 18-Sept. 14. Contest submissions will be shared with elected leaders as Congress is considering legislation to fund the repair, renovation and construction of safe, healthy, and green school buildings. Winning photos and stories from students and teachers will be displayed at a special exhibit in Washington, D.C., (currently planned at the Russell Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building the first week of October) and many more will be published in a Through Your Lens book and online gallery.

School districts spend nearly $50 billion a year on our nation’s 97,000 public schools for capital costs associated with building repair, modernization and new construction. A 2006 study by Building Educational Success Together (BEST) shows substantial inequity in school facility spending between low and high wealth communities.

Earlier this year, school facility grants where removed from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, leaving only special bond financing provisions to encourage public school building investment. These policy actions are increasing the inequity in building conditions of our nation’s public school facilities.

Recently, however, the House and Senate passed legislation that would provide a new opportunity to reduce building disparities for students and teachers, generate jobs in the construction sector, and reduce energy spending.

“Communities need public schools that are environmentally responsible and energy efficient,” says Mark Bishop, Deputy Director of Healthy Schools Campaign. “And above all, our children need school buildings that are healthy and safe so they can learn and succeed in life. Federal funding is an essential part of making this simple vision a reality.”

“It’s time for our policymakers and the public to see through the lens of the students and teachers who experience first-hand the tremendous disparities that exist in this country’s public school facilities,” adds Adam Levner, Co-Director of Critical Exposure, a nonprofit that empowers youth through photography and advocacy training.

For more information, to submit an entry, and to see the gallery, please go to www.ThroughYourLens.org