AFT Releases Two New Reports on Improving School Buildings
Union today releases publications on green schools and school infrastructure funding that echo President-elect Barack Obama’s call for action.

WASHINGTON – As a part of its two-year “Building Minds, Minding Buildings” campaign, the American Federation of Teachers today released two new reports, one on green school buildings and the other on funding infrastructure projects.

“Building Minds, Minding Buildings: Our Union’s Road Map to Green and Sustainable Schools,” is an AFT-developed guide to building and maintaining schools in ways that are healthy, environmentally responsible and cost-efficient. The guide covers why going green is a union issue, what makes a school green, important health and productivity issues, and ways to save costs, and provides examples of AFT action at the local, state and national levels.

The second report, “School Infrastructure Funding Need: A State-by-State Assessment and an Analysis of Recent Court Cases,” is an external study that tracks the current level of school infrastructure funding in all 50 states. The report shows that total school infrastructure funding need is substantial, totaling some $254.6 billion. “School Infrastructure Funding Need” also makes policy recommendations to address the funding need at the federal and state level.

These reports are the latest efforts in the AFT’s long push to reverse deplorable conditions in the nation’s schools. “Our members across the country always have been actively involved in finding solutions and bringing attention to the issue of school infrastructure,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “These latest reports will provide them with some of the insights and information they need to continue their efforts.”

The release of these reports coincides with President-elect Obama’s recent call to improve the physical and technological infrastructure of U.S. schools as part of a stimulus plan to jumpstart the economy.

“We appreciate President-elect Obama’s commitment to ensuring that our children attend schools that provide them with clean, safe and healthy learning environments,” Weingarten said. “The AFT and its members are looking forward to supporting the new administration in that endeavor.”

“Building Minds, Minding Buildings: Our Union’s Road Map to Green and Sustainable Schools” and “School Infrastructure Funding Need: A State-by-State Assessment and an Analysis of Recent Court Cases” can be downloaded from the AFT Web site: www.aft.org/buildingminds.

# # # #