It may sound like a contradiction: At the same time cash-strapped school districts are grappling with budget cuts from Sacramento, many are taking on some of their most ambitious construction projects.

For that you can thank Proposition 39, which in 2000 lowered the percentage of votes needed to pass school construction bond measures. That's led to a boost in dollars for campus construction a much needed one, according to school officials even as operational budgets are being slashed.

That could be a bit confusing to some parents, who may wonder why their child's school is crying poor, yet is building a new gymnasium at the same time. But, according to state law, funds obtained through bond measures must be spent on capital projects.

"It sends a mixed message,' acknowledged William D. Eller, superintendent of the Cypress Elementary School District. "On the one hand we're saying we don't have any money for raises or benefits. On the other hand we're saying we do have money to paint or carpet your house.'

School districts in the Long Beach area and elsewhere in California are doing more than just painting and carpeting. This summer many have been busy building new schools, renovating older ones and adding portable classrooms to accommodate growth.

"Basically, what you're seeing is the result of a decision by California voters at the local level and the state level to support school facility needs,' said Mary Perry, deputy director of EdSource, a Menlo Park-based group that analyzes the state's complex education issues. That support started with Proposition 39, she said.

Prior to November 2000, a two-thirds vote was required to issue general obligation bonds for school construction. But deteriorating and overcrowded campuses brought about Proposition 39, which lowered the bar to 55 percent, albeit with added oversight and financial accountability.

Since that time, districts such as Downey Unified and Norwalk-La Mirada Unified have passed multimillion-dollar construction bonds. (Long Beach Unified passed its $295 million bond in 1999.) And state voters in 2002 endorsed an initiative that provided $11.4 billion for capital improvements on K-12 campuses. Another $10 billion state construction bond measure will likely appear on the ballot next year.

According to EdSource, during the first 18 months after the Proposition 39 rule change from January 2001 to June 2002 school districts raised $6.17 billion for facilities through local bonds alone, nearly 84 percent more than the $3.36 billion raised in the 18-month period before the rule change.

Now, Perry said, after years of planning and red tape, districts are finally starting to bear the fruits of their voter-backed bond measures.

But school construction may be slowing down, according to Kevin Barre, facilities director for Long Beach Unified. He theorized that unhealthy operating budgets caused by the state's economic slump could eventually take their toll.

"If you build a new school, you have to pay to staff it and furnish it,' Barre said, "and you may not be able to do that.'

Still, LBUSD is showing no signs of turning away bulldozers. With enrollment rapidly approaching 100,000 students, the district is tackling is most ambitious list of modernization and construction projects since the 1950s, when an influx of postwar soldiers and the baby boom brought about a number of new schools.

Today, most of LBUSD's work is focused on expanding and modernizing its older campuses. Lakewood and Poly high schools, for example, are each bracing for $15 million worth of improvements that will include new plumbing, modern electrical systems, new ceilings, high- tech science and computer labs, remodeled restrooms, improved access for students with disabilities and fresh coats of paint.

New classroom space in the form of two-story modular buildings is expected to be in place by the start of school at Sutter Elementary School and the Colin Powell Academy. Also at Powell, work is expected to begin next month on a new gym, and a proposed library and administration building will likely be built early next year.

Modernization efforts are also under way at Lindbergh and Rogers middle schools.

Long Beach Unified also has a few new schools on deck. A campus that will serve some 850 elementary school students is rapidly taking shape downtown at Broadway and Golden Avenue, where it will open for business next year. And the district is pushing forward with plans to construct three more elementary schools: one at Redondo Avenue and Hill Street, one at the former GTE site in Signal Hill and one at the former site of Dooley's Hardware in the 5000 block of Long Beach Boulevard.

As for LBUSD's neighbors, the Cerritos-based ABC Unified School District has completed all of its scheduled modernization projects, as has Bellflower Unified, which remodeled the entrance of the gym in front of Bellflower High School this summer and took care of general maintenance tasks. Still, plenty of "Men At Work' signs can be found at sites within other nearby school districts.

Compton

Having completed its new Clinton Elementary School last January, Compton Unified has turned its attention toward modernizing 28 of its campuses, and has already started projects at five of them Bunche, Whaley, Willowbrook and Roosevelt middle schools as well as Centennial High School.

In addition, construction has begun on a single-building addition at Roosevelt Elementary School, and similar additions are being planned for Foster, Kelly and Willard elementary schools as well as Roosevelt and Whaley middle schools.

Cypress

The Cypress Elementary School District is taking care of a handful of deferred maintenance projects this summer.

Crews have replaced the roof of one of the administrative offices at Vessels Elementary and brought in new paint and carpet at Arnold and King elementary schools. In addition, the district has replaced the asphalt that covers the playground and parking lot at Damron Elementary.

:Downey

The biggest changes under way within the Downey Unified School District are taking place on the biggest campuses, as both Downey and Warren high schools are set to benefit from a string of projects.

At Warren High, workers in July began creating a new parking lot, tennis courts and a soccer field, while preparing the foundation for a new administration building.

Construction is set to begin early next month at Downey High, which will get new tennis and basketball courts.

Both schools are also in line for identical multimillion-dollar football stadiums. Downey's stadium is expected to be finished in time for graduation ceremonies next June; Warren's is expected to be ready by fall 2004.

All of Downey Unified's projects are being funded through Measure D, a $65 million bond approved by the city's voters in November, and, ideally, matching funds from the state. Buck Weinfurter, DUSD's maintenance director, said it was important to begin the work quickly so residents wouldn't have to wait for tangible results.

"The citizens of Downey are generally very appreciative of the work that's being done,' he said. "We've received lots of positive comments, people saying, 'It's about time,' and 'I'm glad you started.''

:Little Lake

:It's been a relatively quiet summer for the Little Lake City School District, which is still putting the finishing touches on last summer's playground renovations, according to Superintendent Phillip Perez.

However, Perez said the district is testing a new method of flooring that may be used this year. In a couple of classrooms at Lakeview Elementary and Lake Center Middle schools, carpet is being laid on top of older carpet and tile to avoid disturbing the asbestos that is sealed beneath the tile.

:Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos Unified School District officials are working closely with the city to renovate McAuliffe Middle School's playing field, which is scheduled to reopen Sept. 13. In addition, workers replaced the gymnasium floors at McGaugh and Oak middle schools and Los Alamitos High School.

The district is planning for upcoming modernization projects at both Oak and Los Alamitos, and officials hope to begin building a two-story, 28-classroom building at Los Alamitos by the start of 2004.

Norwalk-La Mirada

Within the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District, workers are installing portable classroom buildings at three middle schools, Hutchinson, Los Alisos and Waite. These portables are temporary and will house about a quarter of each school's population at any given time, as the three campuses are gradually modernized throughout the year.

Some portables brought into Norwalk-La Mirada schools won't be temporary, however. To accommodate growth, state- approved bungalows have been trucked into Glazier Elementary, Corvallis Middle, Glenn High, La Mirada High and Norwalk High schools.

Paramount

Officials with the Paramount Unified School District broke ground in July on a K-8 school that will occupy the west side of the Gaines Elementary School property at 7340 E. Jackson St. The new $13.8 million campus, which will serve about 850 kids, is expected to open on a year-round schedule in July 2004.

Also, construction will begin later this month on an eight- room eastern wing at Paramount Park Elementary School. And next month, $19 million worth of work is set to begin at Paramount High School and Paramount High School West, which will each receive two-story, 12-classroom buildings.