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Funding change in Idaho leaves some districts short on maintenance money

Some school districts in Idaho are struggling to cover routine maintenance costs — even as the state is making the largest investment ever in school facilities.

Idaho Education News reports that House Bill 521, enacted earlier this year, will provide an additional $1.5 billion in state funding to schools over the next decade.

But the legislation also altered the way school districts receive lottery funding — in a way that’s leaving districts cash-strapped in the short term. The facilities bill rerouted about $50 million in annual lottery dividends to a property tax relief fund that must be used to pay off local bonds and levies. Many districts had been using the lottery money for routine upkeep and maintenance staff salaries.

For instance, in the 700-student Ririe district, which has a total budget of $2.7 million, the change will leave it short about $100,000. That money helped pay for the maintenance supervisor's salary and some facility upgrades. But because district voters approved a $1.5 million bond request in May, the $100,000 in lottery proceeds now must go to pay off the bond debt.

School systems that don’t have outstanding debt are allowed to use the leftover facilities fund proceeds on routine upkeep and maintenance-related salaries, the state's education department says.

$75 million allocation will enable Louisiana universities to begin addressing deferred facility maintenance

Louisiana lawmakers have allocated $75 million to make a dent in a long-term effort to address deferred facility maintenance in the state's four college systems.

Nola.com reports that state officials view the funding as a starting point in addressing a backlog of projects that will cost an estimated $2 billion.

The state's college systems — Louisiana State University, Southern University, University of Louisiana and Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges — have provide the legislature with a list of 270 deferred maintenance projects that have long been in need of funding.

It's unclear which projects will be tackled first, but maintenance items include projects such as HVAC unit repairs and replacements, roof and elevator replacements, fire alarm fixes, and sidewalk and parking lot repairs. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed said college officials have been encouraged to prioritize projects that are ready to move forward quickly.

"The message has been very clear to the systems and campuses," Reed said. "Please expedite projects that are ready so that we can show progress, so that the legislature will have confidence that we can continue to move this work forward."

Antietam High School in Reading, Pennsylvania

Grant program will help Pennsylvania schools address facility maintenance

Pennsylvania has unveiled a grant program that will distribute $75 million in state funds to school districts, charter schools and career and technical education centers for environmental remediation in school buildings.

WHYY.org reports that the grants cover improvements such as mold and asbestos remediation, water infrastructure upgrades in schools and installation of treatment devices to reduce children’s exposure to lead. Over 100 districts, schools and education centers will receive grant funds.

“Our students should be able to drink from the water fountains clean water that isn’t going to make them sick,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in the Antietam district, where grant money will be used to rebuild a flooded school. “They should be able to breathe clean air, free of mold and asbestos, and they should be in classrooms that are warm in the winter and cool in the summer.”

The largest grant amount will go to the Antietam district, where flooding in 2023 significantly damaged Antietam Middle-Senior High School in Reading and left the building unusable. The district will receive $7,831,350 through the Environmental Repairs Grant program for repairs and construction.

“This funding will enable schools to repair buildings and provide students and school staff with safe air to breathe, water to drink, and classrooms to learn in,” said Pennsylvania Education Secretary Khalid Mumin.