This is in response to the misinformation contained in your editorial
about sound mitigation funding for Burbank Adult School ("What's $1.9M
worth? Not much, to some," March 24, 2001).
First of all, the Burbank Leader is incorrect in stating that it has
taken the Burbank Unified School District seven years to take action to
soundproof the Burbank Adult School, or that the roughly $1.9-million
grant from the Federal Aviation Administration was, or is, enough for
this project.
Since the project was initiated, the district worked diligently with
the authority, which led to the January 1999 agreement. The agreement
between the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority and the school
district, which included -- among other things -- the sound mitigation of
the Burbank Adult School, was signed in January 1999.
The authorization to proceed with the architectural services for this
project was given by the FAA and the Airport Authority in January 2000
(less than two years ago).
The school district has since diligently and expeditiously proceeded
with the design and construction documents of this project. Those
familiar with school construction projects know that there are so many
federal, state and local requirements and various approving agencies
involved that make construction of these projects start later than
commercial or even other public works projects.
At this point, the architectural plans and specifications for the
project have been completed and submitted for approval to the state of
California -- the governmental agency having jurisdiction over school
construction projects.
Upon completion of the state review and approval thereof, we expect to
start construction by the end of summer this year.
This project not only includes the sound mitigation work payable by
the federal and the Airport Authority's local funds, but also many
physical improvements to be paid for by the district directly and as
approved by the Board of Education.
The original $1.9-million grant was not sufficient to soundproof the
entire school. An architect hired by the school district showed the costs
of the project would be about $4.2 million. The school district
requested, and the Airport Authority obtained from the FAA, additional
funds. This all had to happen before even the agreement between the
school district and the Airport Authority could be executed.
Despite more than 25 major, multiphase construction projects costing
in excess of $165 million that had previously been scheduled for design
