Add as a preferred source on Google

Seems Like a Smart Investment

  • By Jerry Enderle
  • 02/01/18

As we were putting together our February feature on current education facility construction figures, I noticed that nearly all of the respondents were disappointed in the amount of funding they receive. That is not news. Even in the best of financial times it was a legitimate complaint. School facilities are never at the top of the federal priority list when it comes to funding. Heck, they are almost never at the top of the local lists.

But, I thought, why not, as a part of this feature, publish a list of resources that would assist those searching for grants for school construction and/or maintenance? I didn’t, because I couldn’t. On a national level there are none, or at least none that I could find. And, this isn’t a recent development.

I contacted the magazine’s retired Industry Analyst, Paul Abramson, to see if he could steer me in the right direction. His answer was, “Federal dollars have never, at least in the past 70 years, played a significant role in school construction.”

Okay, what about other philanthropic individuals or agencies?

I reached out to Mary Filardo, the executive director of the 21st Century School Fund, to see if she was aware of anything that would be helpful. She reiterated that there are no national school construction grants, and she isn’t aware of any foundations that have funding available. But, she indicated, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Her organization, and five other nonpartisan organizations have formed The [Re]Build America’s School Infrastructure Coalition (BASIC), which is pushing for $100 billion of federal investment over the next 10 years to help modernize the nation’s aging public school facilities. In addition, more than 150 House members support a bill introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), and 25 Senators have expressed support for a similar bill from Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI). Both bills would provide $100 billion in federal grants and school construction bonds and would create an estimated 1.8 million construction jobs nationwide. To find out more details, visit www.buildusschools.org.

With our nation’s schools needing at least $38 billion to bring them to just average condition, let’s hope that gets some traction.

Also, a reminder, if you would like to follow me on Twitter, my handle is Jerry Enderle @SPM_editor. You are always welcome to contact me with your thoughts and ideas at [email protected].

This article originally appeared in the School Planning & Management February 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • FAU Starts Construction on Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building

    Florida Atlantic University recently began construction on a new academic building for its campus in Boca Raton, Fla., according to university news. The Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building will stand two stories, measure in at 22,000 square feet, and play home to the university’s Holocaust education and Jewish studies programs.

  • Tennessee State University Gains Approval for New Engineering Facility

    Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., recently announced that it has received approval from the Tennessee State Building Commission to build a new engineering building on campus, according to a university news release. The 70,000-square-foot, $50-million facility will play home to the university’s engineering programs and the Applied & Industrial Technology program.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

Digital Edition