Release: #03-67
October 28, 2003
October 28, 2003
State Schools Chief O'Connell Announces
Help for School Affected by Wildfires
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said today emergency assistance is available on several levels to help schools affected by the wildfires in Southern California.
"We want to make sure all people in the affected areas are safe from the wildfires, which means some school facilities may be used as community shelters," said O'Connell. "I am also directing the California Department of Education to work closely with other state agencies to ensure that school districts are aware of what type of assistance is available to them. We need as much help as possible from the state and federal governments to deal with this disaster."
Governor Gray Davis declared the counties of San Diego, Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Bernardino disaster areas since Sunday. This is the first step in requesting President George W. Bush to declare the same counties disaster areas, thereby authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide federal funding assistance. The California Department of Education (CDE), Office of Emergency Services, Office of Public School Construction, and Division of State Architect are working together to provide coordinated assistance to schools and districts.
The Office of Public School Construction has located 100 emergency portable classrooms to help schools affected by the wildfires. If more portables are needed, the Office will identify additional funding to purchase more portables. Schools or districts needing more information or facility hardship funding may contact Carol Shellenberger of the Office of Public School Construction at 916-323-4941.
School facilities will not lose Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funding if they are used as community shelters or forced to close because of the wildfires. The California Education Code allows the Superintendent to authorize ADA credit for the days that schools are closed. Districts may also receive ADA credit for all purposes and instructional time credit for the days and minutes lost to an emergency closure. ADA credit and approval of school closures may be obtained by submitting three copies of Form J13A (DOC; 46KB; 6pp.).
"We want to make sure all people in the affected areas are safe from the wildfires, which means some school facilities may be used as community shelters," said O'Connell. "I am also directing the California Department of Education to work closely with other state agencies to ensure that school districts are aware of what type of assistance is available to them. We need as much help as possible from the state and federal governments to deal with this disaster."
Governor Gray Davis declared the counties of San Diego, Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Bernardino disaster areas since Sunday. This is the first step in requesting President George W. Bush to declare the same counties disaster areas, thereby authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide federal funding assistance. The California Department of Education (CDE), Office of Emergency Services, Office of Public School Construction, and Division of State Architect are working together to provide coordinated assistance to schools and districts.
The Office of Public School Construction has located 100 emergency portable classrooms to help schools affected by the wildfires. If more portables are needed, the Office will identify additional funding to purchase more portables. Schools or districts needing more information or facility hardship funding may contact Carol Shellenberger of the Office of Public School Construction at 916-323-4941.
School facilities will not lose Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funding if they are used as community shelters or forced to close because of the wildfires. The California Education Code allows the Superintendent to authorize ADA credit for the days that schools are closed. Districts may also receive ADA credit for all purposes and instructional time credit for the days and minutes lost to an emergency closure. ADA credit and approval of school closures may be obtained by submitting three copies of Form J13A (DOC; 46KB; 6pp.).
