The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "school construction" ...
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Unsafe, Unsound: School Construction Safety In Colorado
The Denver Post's series examined several failures that led to closure, for safety concerns, of a new $18.9 million elementary school in rural Northwestern Colorado town of Meeker- and the broader implications for school construction in the state. The DP demonstrated that the design-and-build firm made a series of mistakes and fought back when questioned, that a state official missed a glaring error in reviewing the project, and that the local school board allowed children to attend classes in the building for months, despite being warned about structural deficiencies.
Tags: elementary schools; construction; meeker; colorado; school officials; structural integrity
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On Shaky Ground
An investigation that uncovered systemic breakdowns in the way the California state enforces seismic safety standards during public school construction.
Tags: seismology; public; school; construction; california; safety; standards; earthquake;
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On Shaky Ground
"A 19-month investigation uncovers systemic breakdowns in the way the state enforces seismic safety standards during public school construction."
Tags: oversight; seismic safety; construction; school safety; earthquakes
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Schools In Crisis: Issues, Solutions
This series reveals the "costs and consequences of a skewed set of priorities at an LA school district." Instead of using the money for teachers' salaries, the school district is using the money on wasteful construction projects. Further, when educational budgets are getting smaller and smaller, this school district is ignoring the basic need of education.
Tags: LA Unified School District (LAUSD); FOIA; building; contractors; education; system; state; Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee
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Subtraction by Addition: A watchdog report on MPS' failed construction program
The series focused on a failed $102 million neighborhood school building program to add classrooms, gyms, libraries, labs and entire schools for Milwaukee schoolchildren. The investigation found that tens of millions of dollars of classrooms added since 2001 sit empty or severely underused.
Tags: school district; construction; enrollment; classroom; academic; test score
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Welcom to Boondoggle Unified
" At L.A. Unified, the nation's second largest school district, Joe Santos worked at a construction company that had won a $10 million dollar seismic bracing project, despite no experience in seismic safety work. When Santos witnessed false claims, left his company and became a federal whistle blower, he was troubled to find that not only were the school district and FEMA reluctant to root out the fraud and waste he exposed; the District Attorney was willing to prosecute him on computer theft charges, even though key evidence had been tainted. The story exposed a vacuum of accountability between FEMA, its inspector general, the general, the school district and its facilities management division. Selective prosecution raised questions about priorities and methods within the L.A. District Attorney's Office."
Tags: earthquake; seismic protection; fraud; construction; school district; FEMA
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Washington Park School
The I-Team investigated Cincinnati School Board decisions related to the relocation of one inner city public school. The story provides insight into how CPS is managing a billion dollars of new school construction. It revealed problems of student safety, economics, Board incompetence and conflicts of interest. The school board deviated from standard property appraisal procedures, overpaid for the school, located it in Cincinnati's most dangerous area and could have renovated a nearby school for far less money.
Tags: school board; school construction; inner city schools; conflicts of interest; student safety
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An Expose of New Jersey's $8.6 billion Public School Construction Program
In response to the news that Schools Construction Corporation, an agency responsible for New Jersey's statewide school construction program, was running out of money, the Star-Ledger launched an investigation into how the program depleted its $8.6 billion budget. Their investigation revealed a number of flaws in the program including costly mid-project changes, top-dollar construction firms miscalculating the cost of equipment for the school projects, and "political interference" from then-Governor James E. McGreevey.
Tags: school districts; urban building program; cost overruns; renovation projects; political backers; unions
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Blank Check
This investigation began when Eisenstadt realized that the budgets for the Manhattan Beach Unified School District didn't make a lot of sense. He found that poor planning and lavish spending cause the school district to run out of money before it completed the almost fifteen million dollars in projects that it promised that public during bond elections. In most cases the construction projects cost far more that the public was aware. Furthermore, Eisenstadt found that school board officials spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on personal trips and expenses.
Tags: school board; school district; superintendent; fraud; budgets; bond elections
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Investigation of Wrongdoing in the Fort Worth School District
This three-year-long investigation documented the waste, wrongdoing and corruption in the Fort Worth School District. It found that theft alone cost taxpayers almost $16 million. Public officials were corrupt, and, as always, the children were the most affected.
Tags: education; school district; construction; fraud; bonds