MISSION VIEJO : District OKs Spending on Projects

Officials of Saddleback Valley Unified School District said this week that a spending freeze has been lifted from a number of projects.

The district will move ahead with major maintenance for buildings, parking lots and swimming pools, spokeswoman Elaine Carter said. The board also will consider filling vacant positions on a case-by-case basis, she said.

The district was among public agencies that had money in Orange County’s collapsed investment pool. The funds were frozen when the county filed for bankruptcy protection Dec. 6.

Under a settlement plan approved earlier this month, school districts will recover 90% of their money in cash and secured notes by June 5, with the remaining 10% to be paid later. Saddleback Valley Unified School District had $62 million in the pool.

The school board has outlined $1.6 million in cuts for the 1995-96 fiscal year, including legal fees, consultant fees and some staff development spending.