California schools at risk of losing funds that could be used to improve HVAC systems in classrooms

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Parents and advocates dedicated to improving indoor aerial prime astatine schools are pushing an contented they judge plagues a bulk of campuses.

"We privation cleanable aerial successful each schools," said JuNelle Harris, the co-founder of Clean Air Allies. "All California schools request bully HVAC."

School districts similar the Huntington Beach City School District person applied to entree much than $190 cardinal collected from inferior ratepayers done the California School Healthy Air, Plumbing and Efficiency program, besides known arsenic CalSHAPE.

The wealth is designated to upgrade heating, aerial conditioning, ventilation and plumbing systems successful nationalist schools.

"These grants are captious to ensuring harmless and steadfast classrooms and would assistance offset important section costs," said HBCSD Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Gary Stine successful a statement. "Without them, schools look infrastructure challenges that could interaction pupil and unit well-being and strain territory resources."

However, applications for the HVAC and plumbing grants abruptly closed.

"The legislature said it was going to spell to schools, and yet it's sitting determination and not going to schools now," said Harris.

California Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, who represents District 66, introduced AB 832 to let schoolhouse districts to entree the money.

"I deliberation we should walk that wealth for what it was intended for," helium said.

He claims it has been denied a proceeding successful beforehand of the Utilities and Energy committee. The unspent CalSHAPE wealth would beryllium returned to inferior ratepayers.

Committee seat Cottie Petrie-Norris wants to marque utilities much affordable.

"I'm committed to scrutinizing each programs to guarantee they are worthwhile investments for the California families who are paying for them," she said. "In the meantime, the committee is not entertaining proposals that create, extend, oregon grow ratepayer-funded programs."

But supporters of the measure said the concern to ratepayers would beryllium adjacent to none.

"Even if determination is simply a refund, we're talking astir similar $20 to $30 per person," said Muratsuchi.

However, clip to entree the wealth is moving out. AB 832 volition dice Friday if the measure is not heard.

"We could take to put successful resilience infrastructure for our schools, for our students, for our teachers, for our assemblage members who usage those schools oregon we could get capable wealth to possibly bargain a sandwich," said Harris.