Declining enrollment has prompted the Los Angeles Unified School District to scale back a $20 billion school construction and remodeling program meant to relieve overcrowding and end involuntary busing, it was reported today.
The building program, paid for by four bond issues approved by local voters and state funds, is believed to be the largest public works project in the nation.
But since the fall, the school system has canceled plans for 19 new schools and additions to existing campuses in South Gate, Bell, Van Nuys, San Fernando, Sun Valley and central Los Angeles and other areas, citing new enrollment projections, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Board of Education yesterday downsized five new schools, eliminating more than 1,000 seats, and last year, the district decided against building seven others, also largely because of decreased enrollment, according to The Times.
Read the full report here.
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