Barrera Minute #5: Building Schools
Apprenticeship programs like this one with the Sheet Metal Workers Local 206 create a pathway to the middle class.
When I was a boy, mornings usually found me waiting for the school bus to take me to nearby Rios Canyon Elementary in El Cajon. After I was elected to the San Diego School Board in 2008, I would also see students in the largely immigrant neighborhoods I represent at bus stops, but they were waiting for school buses to take them to the other side of town. Despite having excellent educators and innovative programs, their neighborhood schools were often housed in aging, run-down facilities, sending the message to students and families, “We do not care about you.”
I vowed to change that, and, as soon as I was sworn in, I worked with the San Diego Building Trades Council and the Carpenters Union to create the first ever Project Labor Agreement for an education district in San Diego County. Our collaboration has resulted in voter approval of $11.6 billion in taxpayer bonds for our public schools – more than the total of state school bonds over this period.
All public construction projects should be done with PLAs because
Workers who build and repair our schools deserve family supporting careers, high quality affordable healthcare, retirement security, and the protection that comes with union representation; and
The community deserves to benefit from its investment. Under San Diego Unified’s PLA, 100% of the construction jobs are designated for residents of San Diego County, while 35% target people living in high-poverty zip codes, where the majority of our students grow up.
Our partnership with the Building Trades and Carpenters has also enhanced educational and career opportunities for our students through courses that lead to construction apprenticeships.
“Through Richard Barrera, we have partnered with San Diego schools to provide the apprenticeships and on-the-job training in the Building Trades that are so important to student success and California’s future.”
The results have been spectacular. For example, a new shared campus for Central Elementary School and Wilson Middle School in City Heights includes a health clinic at the elementary school, a robotics lab at the middle school, a shared performing arts center, and a joint use soccer field that doubles as a city park during non school hours. Wilson Middle, which had been under-enrolled for years, now has a waiting list.
San Diego Unified’s partnership with the Building Trades and Carpenters transformed the aging facilities at Central Elementary and Wilson Middle into a state-of-the-art learning complex.
Every child deserves a modern, welcoming place to learn in their own neighborhood. An alliance with the Building Trades and Carpenters is vital to achieving that goal. To help us bring the benefits of this partnership throughout the state, please donate to our campaign or get involved at our website.
Forward together,
Richard
