Bonds for Brentwood school upgrades OKd

The Brentwood school board has approved $15.4 million in bonds that will go toward improving school buildings and completing construction initiatives, officials said.

The money is part of a $100 million capital improvement project the school district secured in 2006 through the state's EXCEL program, which allows districts to leverage aid money for construction loans with little impact on local property taxes.

"We're going to be able to improve the quality of schools and save the maximum amount for our taxpayers," district spokesman Rick Belyea said.

The bonds, which the board unanimously approved last week, complete the district's borrowing for EXCEL-funded projects, officials said.

The board approved two bonds: one for $5 million and another for $10.4 million. Both will go toward ongoing building repairs and renovation efforts, Belyea said.