Report: California School Inspections Falling Short
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A report from the state auditor says a quarter of school projects built in the last few years may not meet California building codes thanks to lax oversight from a state agency.
The California State Auditor's report on the Division of the State Architect revealed that state officials failed to certify 16,000 school projects across the state, with 477 of the uncertified schools located in the Sacramento region.
"Many schools were uncertified, so that means that school went all the way through construction, students are currently attending that school," said state auditor Elaine Howle.
The report also stated that officials failed to watch inspectors of construction projects closely, letting safety issues fall through the cracks. The agency can't even say whether uncertified schools are facing minor or major safety issues.
Division of the State Architect spokesperson Eric Lamoureux said the department is working to address their procedures in the wake of the report, but added that it's up to the school district to get a school certified.
"The districts haven't provided us the documentation required in order to achieve the certification," Lamoureux said.
Governor Jerry Brown recently appointed a new state architect, who says he's going to implement changes that include more oversight on school projects.
