A Problem that Cannot be Ignored!

Last week, (March 12^th to be specific), the Associated Press published an article based on a startling report by the Center for Green Schools.  In case you missed the article, it stated the following about US school (K-12) buildings:

1. It would take $270B to bring existing school
   buildings back to their original condition
2. It would take $542B to update and modernize the
   same buildings

The same report highlights the fact that in 1995 a similar study was published, showing that it would have taken $112B to restore existing buildings (at that time).  So, despite having this information about building deficiencies, the problem has grown dramatically in the last 18 years. 

Why did this problem grow, instead of being eliminated in the last 18 years?  The report answered that question for us.  The School systems spent $211B maintaining the existing structures in their districts.  The study showed that at least $482B was required to properly maintain the same structures.  Who made the decision to cut the maintenance/ refurbishing budget that dramatically?  In most cases, it was the local School Boards. 

Now I am sure that the local School Boards listened to their maintenance and asset management professionals and approved the budget amounts that these “PROFESSIONALS” recommended to properly care for the “TAXPAYERS” investments in the buildings.  Not Even Close!!  One Chief Facilities Executive at a school district in Los Angeles (LA Times 3/13/2013) said he had to try to do with $86M what he used to do with $220M.  I am quite sure he did not cut his own budget. 

Taxpayers have stopping financing School Districts thirst for building new structures.  School districts are now spending $12B per year on new construction, which is less than ½ of what was spent per year between 2000 and 2008.  So the need to keep existing structures in prime condition has never been more important.  Yet, how many School Districts are giving their maintenance and asset managers a sizeable budget increase to remedy the existing poor building conditions?  With the tax base being reduced for many school districts during the recent recession, you can bet there are virtually no budget increases.  The problem appears to be in a death spiral.

Why this apparently negative blog?  If you correlate this study with additional information that was published by a professor at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, you will find the reason.  This information shows that “the average test scores of students learning in buildings deemed to be in poor condition were ten percentage points lower than  those in excellent conditions -- even when controlling for other factors, like income, neighborhood, or race”.

There have been complaints for years about the lower standard test scores that the US school systems achieve when compared internationally.  There continue to be complaints about the US school systems and their ability to produce candidates that can move into existing technical positions in manufacturing.  Perhaps the root cause of the problem is not the quality of the teachers in the school districts, but perhaps the conditions the teachers and students must endure…

Next blog – A possible solution to the problem.