Lingle releases nearly $66M for school upgrades

Nearly $66 million approved by the Legislature has been released to the state Department of Education to finance a lengthy list of repairs and maintenance at public schools around the state.

Gov. Linda Lingle announced on Thursday that she had released the funds.

The $65.5 million will be divided among the islands, with $46 million going to schools on Oahu, $8.9 million to the Big Island, $7.5 million to Maui and $3.1 million to Kauai.

The money will finance numerous repairs, including electrical, plumbing and drainage systems, roofs, driveways, railings, computer labs, windows, fire alarms, air conditioning and cafeterias.

The funds are part of a $140.5 million effort to improve conditions at almost 250 public school campuses.