HARRIS: How about this? The nation's most expensive public school opens next month in Los Angeles. The $578 million facility is being called "The Taj Mahal of Schools." With plush carpeting, red velvet seats in the auditorium and state of the art swimming pool, officials say it was in the works before the economy tanked and was paid for with voter approved bonds, but it opens during a time of teacher layoffs and education cutbacks.</s>BEN AUSTIN, BOARD OF EDUCATION: These kids are going to school in a Taj Mahal, but it's going to be run by the same people who brought us a 50 percent dropout rate.</s>RAMON CORTINES, SUPERINTENDENT: I don't look at this as a school for today. I look at this as a school for the next 150 years.</s>HARRIS: OK, the school was built on the site of the Ambassador Hotel where Robert Kennedy was assassinated. Tune in to CNN NEWSROOM all next week for a special series on education. "Fix On Our Schools" will focus on success. And we want you to join the conversation, of course. Tell us about the small things that are making a big difference in your school. Parents and teachers, tell us what you think it will take to fix our schools. You can, of course, contact us through Facebook and Twitter, or on our blog page. And you know the address, right? CNN.com/Tony. We're back in a moment.
$578 Million High School Opens in LA Amid Teacher Layoffs