School children and parents living near the single largest source of pollution in Southern California were promised air-cleaning filters in classrooms nearly four years ago – but many never saw them.

In 2012, the Port of Long Beach signed a deal to give Long Beach Unified School District $4 million to install air filtration systems and erect pollution-cutting landscapes in 27 school facilities near the corridor of the nation’s largest and most active seaport complex.

“The point of getting the money was to try to get these projects implemented as quickly as possible,” said Heather Tomley, director of environmental planning for the Port of Long Beach.

It was a high priority for the port, she said, as children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to diesel pollutants. With big rigs traveling to and from the port day and night, residents who live near the port have higher rates of asthma and respiratory problems linked to diesel-emissions.

But so far, fewer than half the schools – just 12 – have the filtration systems. And of those 12, the filtration systems burned out at least 10 air conditioning motors at schools.

Long Beach Superintendent Christopher Steinhauser said he wasn’t aware of the problems.

“We are totally committed to kids over there, ” he said this week. As proof, he pointed to a lawsuit the school district and other entities brought against the Port of Los Angeles for a proposed $500 million BNSF Railway yard built on land adjacent to schools.

“This district has been a leader in protecting kids,” he said. “If not we would have never proceeded with the lawsuit.”

He said he couldn’t commit to a completion date for the remaining schools, referring questions to his facilities staff.

Officials said some schools, including Poly High School, posed problems because they didn’t have the air conditioning systems needed in order for the filters to work.

Les Leahy, business service administrator for the district, said the district was getting ready to install filters in another 12 schools this year, but decided to hold off until November, when voters will decide on a $1.5 billion bond to pay for air conditioning and other upgrades at schools.

The systems will, however, soon be installed in four schools: Adams, Burbank and Lafayette elementary schools, and Butler Middle School.

Evangelina Ramirez founder of Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma, believes there is an overall lack of urgency because grant administrators don’t live in her neighborhood.

“They don’t come in the area,” she said. “They don’t know what is happening in the community.”

Her now 19-year old daughter grew up blocks from the 710 Freeway, within view of the port. Her daughter, who attended Stephens Elementary, nearly stopped breathing as a baby because of asthma.

“To have child with asthma, they don’t know how it affects your life and the family,” she said.

The funds for the filtration systems came as part of a mitigation program mandated under law to offset environmental damage created by the construction of the new Middle Harbor terminal and the Gerald Desmond Bridge.

Under the program, the port committed more than $17 million, and the school district emerged as the biggest beneficiary. Harbor commissioners are now considering a similar fund worth $46.4 to offset impacts caused by port operations.

“We need stronger oversight into how this money is spent,” said Councilman Roberto Uranga, whose district sits in the port’s shadow. “That is something that might need to be established. Not only of residents.”

Tomley agrees.

“Going forward we are going to have to be more diligent that we meet the milestones and deliverables,” she said.