State hands down half million for area schools

Seven schools in Whitman County have been granted a total of $502,712 from the state to make repairs to their buildings.

The office of Randy Dorn, state Superintendent of Public Instruction, announced Monday grant awards to Colfax, Endicott, Garfield, LaCrosse, Lamont, Rosalia and Tekoa schools.

The local schools were part of a 62-school, $5 million grant award throughout the state.

Funding came from the Urgent Repair Grant program, which was created by the Legislature to fund repairs and renovations that relate to student health and safety.

More than $12 million was requested by 108 school districts from the fund.

Local schools receiving grants were:

Colfax, $90,434 for repairs to the roof over the Jennings Elementary gym; Endicott, $100,000 for heating and cooling system improvements; Garfield, $90,000 for asbestos and lead abatement measures; LaCrosse, $59,000 for roof repairs; Lamont, $80,000 for a new boiler burner, new ADA-compliant bathroom and new entrance doors; Rosalia, $19,020 for hazardous material abatement and Tekoa, $83,858 for roof repairs.