SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The Santa Maria Bonita School District, or SMBSD, wants to build more schools to address overcrowding. But they're getting some opposition from a board member saying existing schools need repair.
About a year ago, the SMBSD discussed building another school to accommodate the growing school population in the area. The district restated the need for another building at a board meeting on January 16th. Board member Will Smith says he disagrees with the school district and says they don't need another building. Smith also says the school district has unfinished renovation projects on existing schools.
"Why would we go and take out more money and put the school district into deeper debt when we need to finish the buildings that we currently have," says Smith.
While Smith says current schools are the ones that need fixing, SMBSD spokeswoman Maggie White says there are no problems with current school buildings.
"We have great schools," says White. "They are in great shape. But we just need more of them."
The State Department of Education received a complaint from Smith and is investigating into the safety of the school district's buildings. Responding to Smith's claims that work on current buildings needs to be finished, White says the work is done. They are just waiting for the paperwork to go through.
"It doesn't mean they're unsafe. Doesn't mean they're unfinished. Doesn't mean there is work that still needs to be done," says White.
