Rated an “A” school by the state, Everglades K-8 Center in Westchester won rave reviews from former Gov. Charlie Crist, who visited the school in 2007, calling it a “model” for its students’ scores consistently ranking high on the FCAT.

Everglades is among 280 crumbling schools in Miami-Dade County that need new air conditioners, windows and other upgrades, as these photos show. The schools also need 21st century technology to help our students compete globally.

Nearly one-half of the district’s school buildings are over 40 years old, and more than one-third are at least 50 years old. A vote Yes for a $1.2 billion bond issue, on the November ballot, would deliver for our kids. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho promised last week that all the projects could be completed within seven years.

Inadequate school buildings and the lack of access to state-of-the-art technology hurt Miami-Dade County’s public school students in the short term and hinder South Florida’s economic future.

It’s time to invest in a building program that will deliver huge dividends for this area’s economy.