What are states and the federal government doing to address the condition of K-12 school facilities in 2022-23?
It may seem that we are beyond the point of no return when it comes to maintaining K-12 schools throughout the country. There are 180,000 public schools and 30,000 private schools. Over the last 20 years, there has been increasing awareness and focus on school facility condition, with a focus on asset management. With that in mind, schools are crying out for attention. Most of the literature on K-12 facility deferred maintenance, throughout the US appears to be substantially negative when it comes to the backlog of deferred maintenance at public schools. The facts of deferred capital investment include:
1.??????????????Age of Facilities – average age of school = 42 years
2.??????????????Average deferred maintenance of school = $4.2 million
3.??????????????Schools with windows in poor condition = 32%
4.??????????????Schools with restrooms in poor condition = 31%
5.??????????????Schools with HVAC in poor condition = 30%
6.??????????????Schools with energy use in poor condition = 29%
7.??????????????Schools with roofs in poor condition = 25%
8.??????????????Schools with electrical systems in poor condition = 22%
9.??????????????Schools with life safety systems in poor condition = 19%
10.???????????Schools with exterior walls in poor condition = 18%
11.???????????Schools with structural systems in poor condition = 14%
12.???????????Schools require $85 B per year for facility investment
Despite these numbers on deferred maintenance for K-12 schools, the good news is that cities and states are stepping up in 2022-23 to address school facility deferred maintenance. State by state, there appears to be increasing levels of interest and action in addressing school facility condition. South Carolina reports that they are making the largest commitment to school facility funding in 70 years. Here is a limited summary of school facility funding initiatives, within 15 states, for the 2022 -23 school year:
Alabama schools have received $2 billion in federal COVID relief. The state has appropriated approximately 33% for school facilities.
Alaska has a differed maintenance backlog of $375M per year. The state is currently budgeting for 33% of the needed funding, $124M per year.
Arizona has set aside 17% of their overall state budget for school facility capital renewal.
California’s governor is proposing $1.3 billion for school facilities in 2022-23 and another $925 million in 2023-24.
Idaho has increased funding for state universities by 7.1% and increased funding for community colleges by 4.8%. The state expects to retire 20% of schools over the next 10 years. They understand that 53% of schools need significant maintenance or they will also need to be retired. Funds needed for 77 school districts is $847 to restore schools to good condition. The total need is between $1-2 billion.
Illinois is increasing the mandated amount for their Healthy school from $30 million to $40 million in fiscal years 2023 and 2024.
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Maryland is mandating that schools be reassessed every 4 years for condition and capital planning. Maryland authorized the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) to issue up to $2.2 billion in revenue bonds, backed by annual payments from the Education Trust Fund (ETF) beginning in fiscal 2022 that phase up to $125 million annually by fiscal 2024, for public school construction projects in the State. It also increases or extends mandated State funding for supplemental public school construction programs and establishes a new special fund and mandate for the highest priority school facilities, including: $285 million - Capital Improvement Program for approved local school construction and renovation projects. Maryland's school funding initiatives for 2022-23 also include:
Michigan, specifically Detroit, is proposing a 2022 budget of $700 million for school facilities.
New Hampshire’s school building fund, which was in moratorium for over a decade, will be infused with $30 million for new projects. There were approximately $250 million worth of projects proposed for the 2022-2023 biennium.
New Jersey is proposing a 2022 budget of $400 million for college and university facilities as well as $11.6 billion for K-12 facilities.
North Carolina has a nearly $13 billion backlog in new school construction and renovations, according to the 2020-21 Facility Needs Survey. The backlog represents an increase of more than $4 billion over the $8 billion reported in the Facility Needs Survey five years ago. Construction costs for new schools, as well as and additions and renovations to existing schools account for more than half — approximately $6.54 billion — of the costs identified in the 2020-21 survey.
Oklahoma’s Senate Bill 229 would create a $38.5 million equalization fund to distribute among school districts with low property tax bases. That would include brick-and-mortar charter schools, which do not have access to the building funds provided by local ad valorem taxes.
Oregon schools all submit information each year for all of Oregon's school districts, charter schools, and ESDs. This annual data collection provides key information about school facilities across the state. Specifics such as location, age, size, structure type, and designated use are collected. Additional fields include significant building renovations and seismic upgrades, annual energy consumption, and the type and speed of internet service. https://www.koin.com/news/oregon-schools-to-get-64-2m-in-common-school-funds/
Rhode Island is proposing a $300-million bond for school construction and renovation that would go before voters on the 2022 ballot. Four years ago, Rhode Island voters approved a $250-million school construction bond to address decades of neglect, and what one official called a tidal wave of need.?Now, state officials are proposing a second, $300-million bond that would go before voters on the 2022 ballot.?The bond would also provide incentives for early childhood education facilities, career and technical education facilities, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) facilities. The legislation includes new incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements to public school buildings, and new incentives for school districts to hire local contractors and minority business enterprises on construction projects. https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/education/2022/01/06/ri-general-assembly-propose-300-million-plan-rebuild-schools/9115739002/
South Carolina Department of Education has received $100 million from the General Assembly in the current state budget for these projects, and it is allocating $40 million of its remaining pandemic relief money from the federal government toward them as well. While lawmakers are still finalizing the next budget, they anticipate receiving at least another $100 million next year, an appropriation that could be as much as $150 million.
In addition to state-based funding initiatives for school facilities, the Federal government has also been targeting schools for investment.
The federal government has historically avoided school facility funding except for investment in natural disaster relief. However, in 2021, the Biden administration attempted to change this funding avoidance and added $1 Billion to the Infrastructure Bill. The bill dropped all funding for school facilities before being passed.
Most states appear to be sitting on approximately $3.3 billion per state for K-12 funding from the Cares Act of 2020, the CRRS – Coronavirus Relief Supplemental Act, the American Rescue Plan, and the Infrastructure bill. Funding from the CRRS Act needs to be used by Sept. 2023. Funding from the American Rescue Plan needs to be used by Sept. 2024. As an example, Alabama schools still have access to K-12 funding that includes:
Biden’s Infrastructure Plan
From any perspective, schools throughout the country have increasingly been the focus of local, state, and national funding initiatives. With construction costs up 20 – 25% over the last two years, the extra focus and funding for K-12 schools makes this a moment in time to address the deferred capital investment in schools. The focus on funding k-12 school facilities highlights the need for Building Performance and Facility Condition consulting services that can target priorities through comprehensive asset management.
Roth Integrated Asset Management’s vision is To SOLVE THE WORLD’S DEFERED CAPITAL RENEWAL AND MAINTENANCE BACKLOG CRISIS. Our mission is to collaborate with organizations to enable them to make better decisions within their unique organizational context on where and how to invest their limited capital and maintenance dollars to create a better built environment. For more information, visit:
Architect: Steward of the built environment
2 年Mike, Good question. One of my original articles this year noted the shear number of challenges facing schools from air quality, hygiene, safety, digital communication, space utilization, energy, carbon foot-print, ADA, demographics, diversity, and many more. That's where integrated asset management strategies help to prioritize and defend the most important areas of focus.
Help BSCs & In-house Cleaning Ops with their pain points, and then provide consistently superior results. Also help mfgs & distributors achieve true strategic growth. Author. Speaker.
2 年Why no mention of the many schools, colleges, and universities that are not providing adequate levels of clean, healthy, and safe? That is a relatively low-lying fruit that can be improved. How do you know if your school, college, or university does provide adequate levels? How do you really know how it compares to best-in-class? Are your students and other stakeholders not worth it? What evidence-based data do you have?