Recovery Act Funds Warren Twp HS Expansion

PUBLISHED: May 01, 2009

Congresswoman Melissa Bean congratulated Warren Township High School officials for their quick action to take advantage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help fund needed expansions and renovations.

Through the Build America Bonds program, the high school will receive $2.5 million from the federal government by issuing $23.7 million in construction bonds. The $23.7 million represents the balance of a $30 million bond issue voters approved in November, 2008 in order to expand the Almond Campus and make building improvements at both the Almond and O'Plaine campuses.

Officials plan to use the funds to construct 14 new classrooms and expand the cafeteria at the Almond campus to relieve overcrowding. Currently, students start eating lunch as early as 9:55 a.m. to ensure enough lunch shifts to accommodate all students. The high school is growing by approximately 200 students each year.

"This kind of project, which leverages federal dollars through wise investment of local dollars, is exactly what Congress had in mind when we passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," said Bean (IL-08). "Through these bonds, Warren Township High School will be able to expand educational resources for our children in a way that saves taxpayer dollars, while providing immediate construction jobs. I commend Warren Township High School officials for moving quickly to take full advantage of this federal program."

"By moving early and taking advantage of the Build America Bonds program, we have saved taxpayers $2.5 million," said Ms. Carol Rogers, Warren's Director of Business Services and Operations.

Bean has held several meetings with local officials and community leaders to review the Recovery Act and answer questions about the funding available for infrastructure, education, green energy and small business. She has distributed a 58-page guide to the act to all local governments and business associations.