National and local education leaders toured a local high school to show support for school modernization provisions in the economic stimulus package.

Jessica Forres reports....



Students…inside a classroom…are complaining to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, about the poor conditions at Arlington, Virginia's Wakefield High School.

NAT:] IT'S 96 DEGREES IN THIS ROOM ALL DAY

Temperatures in the classroom are their biggest complaint. Paul Stetkluh is a sophomore. He says his teachers often switch rooms...

WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY HARD ON US BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUR TEACHERS ALL THE TIME OR GET TO THEM AT LUNCH WHEN WE NEED TO.

Inside the school's library, Secretary Duncan says he's urging Congress to fund school construction and renovation projects in the stimulus package. The provisions were passed in the House but not in the Senate...

RIGHT NOW THERE'S ZERO DOLLARS IN THE SENATE BILL. THAT TO ME IS STAGGERING. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME THAT WE DON'T SEE THE HUGE STIMULATIVE IMPACT OF PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK NOW WITH TREMENDOUS UNMET NEED BEYOND 20 BILLION DOLLARS AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN WE CAN DO TO CREATE FACILITIES OUR STUDENTS.

Through Gene Wilhoit…with the Council of Chief State School Officers there are shovel-ready projects in Virginia and nationwide that could benefit...

THIS BUILDING IS ONE THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT BUT ALL ACROSS VIRGINIA YOU WOULD HAVE THAT SAME SORT OF SITUATION AND WE WOULD BE PUTTING THE MONEY IN THE PLACES WHERE WE HAVE THE GREATEST NEED

Two new high schools in Arlington are scheduled to be rebuilt, but are not fully funded.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

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National and local education leaders are asking Congress to add school construction projects in the economic stimulus package.

Jessica Forres reports…they toured a local high school to show their support....

The U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, is taking a tour of Arlington, Virginia's Wakefield High School. He stops to talk with some students inside a classroom.

[NAT:]

He is using the occasion to talk about education provisions in the economic stimulus package. The provisions, which include 20 billion dollars for school construction and renovation projects, were passed in the House but not in the Senate.

SO AS THIS DISCUSSION GOES INTO CONFERENCE WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT CONFERENCE IS OF STAGGERING IMPORTANCE. AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT OUR LEADERSHIP HERE UNDERSTANDS THAT, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR PARENTS.

The students at Wakefield certainly do. Principal Doris Jackson says the school is scheduled to be renovated in 2013.

WELL THE BUILDING HAS OUTLIVED IT'S USEFULNESS. YOU CAN LOOK AROUND IT IS TRULY A 1950, 1960's SCHOOL.

But Gene Wilhoit…with the Council of Chief State School Officers…says the 20 billion will be dispersed to school districts with shovel-ready projects.

WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS AN ABILITY TO MOVE THOSE PROJECTS AS SOON AS ANY MONEY WOULD FLOW WITHOUT ANY DELAY IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION AND IT PUTS PEOPLE IN JOBS IMMEDIATELY.

Wakefield and Yorktown High Schools in Arlington are scheduled to be rebuilt, but are not fully funded.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News