BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A $59 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment has been awarded to the Desert Junior Senior High School at Edwards Air Force Base.
On Friday, Congressman Kevin McCarthy sent out a statement detailing the current needs of the community and facility. The congressman said that the grant will give the high school a "competitive edge in recruitment efforts by offering military and government civilian families the added assurance that their children will receive the best education possible.”
Back in In 2011, the Department of Defense reportedly released a list of public schools on military installations that are in most need of funds to improve the schools’ facilities.
In a statement, Muroc Joint Unified School District's Kevin D. Cordes said:
“The Muroc Joint Unified School District is extremely excited to learn that the Desert Jr/Sr High School project, through the Public Schools on Military Installations Program, has been approved for construction. We wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the Department of Defense, the Office of Economic Adjustment, and Representative Kevin McCarthy for their support of students at Edwards Air Force Base. From the onset of this tremendous opportunity, Representative McCarthy has been front and center advocating for our students in Kern County, California. The work performed at Edwards Air Force Base is vital to our nation’s security, and the students of those who dedicate their lives to our nation’s defense deserve the best that we have to offer. Through this funding, the students at Edwards Air Force Base will be provided excellent school facilities to support their learning for generations to come.”
