Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Randy Dorn today announced that more than $150 million in capital construction money is being released to school districts throughout the state. Added to nearly $434 million in capital bonds approved by voters in communities, the release of funds will bring more than $584 million into the state’s economy.

A total of 22 districts, in partnership with OSPI, are ready to begin or continue work on 29 new school buildings and school building modernization projects.

The 22 school districts funded this year include Bellevue, Bethel, Camas, Eatonville, Everett, Federal Way, Freeman, Lake Washington, Montesano, Moses Lake, North Thurston, Northshore, Seattle, Snohomish, South Bend, Sumner, Sunnyside, University Place, Valley, Walla Walla, West Valley (Yakima County) and White Pass.

In Pierce County, money will be directed to the following schools / projects:

— University Place / Curtis High Gym Replacement — $3,006,413

— Sumner / Victor Falls Elementary Modernization — $5,608,863

— Sumner / Lakeridge Middle Replacement — $6,499,047

— Sumner / Lakeridge Middle Modernization — $896,310

— Bethel / Spanaway Lake High Addition — $3,239,086

— Bethel / Spanaway Lake High Replacement — $458,393

— Bethel / Spanaway Lake High Modernization — $17,549,353

— Eatonville / Eatonville Middle Addition — $600,556

Approval for funding was determined by a number of factors. The district must have passed a local bond, and it must have applied to OSPI for the project. Funds received from the state come from state funding assistance grants.

The state’s school construction assistance program also includes a set-aside to provide public art for new facilities. This year, the state will provide approximately $322,000 in public art allocations for these school construction projects.

For more information on school construction projects, visit http://www.k12.wa.us/SchFacilities .