Facility Master Planning: Essential Steps for Success

Article Sponsored By Premier Partner: Schneider Electric

In the face of declining student enrollment and funding uncertainty, it’s no secret that schools throughout Missouri and the rest of the country are facing unprecedented fiscal and operational challenges. With a growing backlog of deferred maintenance, losses of tax revenue, and uncertainty in federal and state legislations — educators have a steep list of competing priorities to address.

More than ever, school districts are tackling these priorities through long-range facility master planning and multiple fund sources. Read on to understand what this process looks like, and how districts across the state are improving budget stability, creating modern, comfortable learning environments, and making positive impacts in their communities.

Why do facilities matter for school districts?

Over one-third of school buildings in the United States were built before 1970. It’s no wonder that many schools struggle to upkeep their HVAC, lighting, windows, and other building maintenance. While it’s well-understood that a comfortable, updated classroom can play a role in the learning experience, it is important to recognize just how important the right learning environments are to student success.

St. Joseph School District embarked on an ambitious district-wide facility improvement project – aiming to breathe new life into their aging infrastructure without sacrificing the unique, historic character of each building.

Upgrades included installing heating and air conditioning to auditoriums and gymnasiums for the first time, transitioning classroom fixtures over to LED lighting, and modernizing existing HVAC systems. With the addition of a state-of-the-art building automation system, the project also drove major energy cost reductions that can be reinvested into the district.

“Providing a safe and healthy learning environment for our students and teachers is one of our top priorities. The partnership with Schneider Electric has helped us update our facilities while saving money for future improvements. These changes go beyond mechanical, they’re allowing us to modernize our facilities and give our students more comfortable environments in which to learn and thrive,” says Dr. Gabe Edgar, Superintendent of St. Joseph School District.

 

Moving from ambition to impact

Before developing a long-range plan, school districts must have a clear understanding of their goals and the needs of their stakeholders: students, staff, parents, and the surrounding community. It is crucial to closely engage and align with these stakeholders early on and throughout the planning process.

It is also important to understand the landscape of available funding opportunities at a local, state, and federal level. Aligning your objectives with a strategic funding plan will help you prioritize a course of action.

Available funding opportunities in the state of Missouri include:

·        

Traditional Funding: Reallocate utility expenditures to pay for Fund 4 improvements, bond funds to upgrades and renovations

·         Tax-exempt lease purchase (TELP): Work with district financial advisor to secure lowest interest rate available, utilize savings to help pay for the annual payment

·         Missouri DNR programs: Audit Reimbursement Program, Low Interest Energy Loans

·         Investment Tax Credit (ITC): Solar or geothermal implementation

·         179D incentive program: Incentive for interior lighting, building envelope, or HVAC projects

Outside funding can be leveraged to make smart investments that will yield long-term budget stability. This often means prioritizing projects that support both your district’s long-term and short-term needs, including projects that:

·         Address the concerns and complexities of your community, students, and staff in providing tangible improvements that are both seen and felt.

·         Simultaneously deliver better learning environments while creating stability in the budget.

·         Tackle deferred maintenance and provide for future facility priorities.

 

Ferguson-Florissant School District (FFSD) is a prime example of how strategically leveraging multiple funding sources could help drive modernization initiatives forward. FFSD was awarded $7M in FY23 through the Clean School Bus Program, which they have used to fund 16 new EV buses, chargers, and electrical infrastructure.

“Schneider Electric’s grant consultant helped us navigate a lengthy and tedious application that enabled our staff to stay focused on day-to-day activities. This grant money will further the district’s strategic plan to strengthen our financial and operational stewardship,” says Terry O’Neil, Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Maintenance at FFSD.

Other programs that are beneficial but not new to many districts include the COPS School Violence Prevention Program, COPS Hiring Program, STOP School Violence Program, and Department of Education School Based Mental Health Services.

These programs can be sourced by Energy Service Companies. ESCOs have the expertise and experience to secure these funds for school districts. These projects are shown to multiply the impact of that capital infusion, focusing on improvements that increase budget stability long-term by lowering utility, maintenance, and operation costs.

Beyond the building: Long-term outcomes for your students and community

 

A well-crafted facility master plan serves as a crucial roadmap for creating safe, modern, and comfortable school environments. As mentioned, your district’s students, parents, staff, and surrounding community members are key to keep engaged in the planning process. A strong communication and engagement plan is essential to ensuring your stakeholders are aligned and informed as your plan progresses.

As Pattonville School District has made significant upgrades to their facilities that improve health and safety and modernize classrooms, they have also brought their students and other community stakeholders along in the journey. The district deployed a robust communication plan to highlight the benefits of their new facilities, while also turning these efforts into learning and career development opportunities around energy efficiency and STEM. Activities as part of these programs included building solar homes and racecars, celebrating International STEM Day, hearing from a panel of STEM professionals, and a field trip to learn about energy and sustainability careers at a local Schneider Electric branch.

Pattonville’s efforts serve as a reminder that facility master planning is not just about building improvements. At its core, it is really about the occupants within those buildings. Long-range facility planning is an exercise in designing spaces that foster future success for students and the surrounding community.

By recognizing the importance of updated facilities, understanding how to achieve these updates, and effectively engaging the right stakeholders throughout the process, school leaders are well-equipped to create a successful facility master plan.

Looking for more information? Please contact Hannah White, Missouri Program Manager for Schneider Electric in St. Louis to learn more.

Email: Hannah.white@se.com