Apollo Solutions Group was a sponsor for a photo contest put on by the Center For Innovative Schools, a not for profit created to bring awareness to Oregon Schools and their need for updated facilities, providing healthy learning environments for students.
The contest included five regional winners for two categories including the best and the worst learning environments, titled “Schools we deserve” and “W,e deserve better.”
Awards were presented at the Oregon State Capitol on Thursday, June 11, 2015.
Senator Devlin, the sponsor of SB447 was there to sign awards and speak on the need for the funding for schools.
One winner, Dennis Whitehouse from the North Wasco School District, mentioned that he had to send students home early due to conditions being too hot to work in, with no air conditioning.
If passed, Senate Bill 447 would bring up to $80M in funding for schools.
Every $1 million the state invests in K-12 school buildings supports at least 7 jobs. Matching grants that help local communities pass their own school bonds can do even more. A state Task Force found that in ten close bond elections that could be swayed with a matching grant incentive, the state’s maximum investment of $80 million could produce:
- $700 million in local funding for school projects
- 5,460 family-wage jobs
- dozens of new or modernized schools for Oregon’s students
SB447 is currently in the ways and means committee and could be passed by the end of the legislative session, July 11, 2015.