Imperial Valley school gets new pavement

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KSWT, KECY)-The Imperial Valley has one of the worst asthma rates for children in the golden state. But a pilot program featuring cost-effective pavement could change that.

Earlier Thursday morning, Mccabe Union Elementary School District and the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District celebrated the completion of the project.

What was formerly a dirt lot is now a parking lot paved with recycled asphalt and surface stabilizer which is a 60 percent cost reduction. 

Superintendent, Laura Dubbe said this will have long term health benefits for their students. 

"Students need to be at school to be able to learn and to benefit from the programs we have on our campus. We know that locally asthma and allergies are definitely a concern and they impact our attendance. And to be able to reduce the amount of dust that comes into the air is definitely a benefit to all of our students."

The Imperial County Air Pollution Control District plans to continue paving more dirt lots at schools throughout the valley.