Maintaining school facilities a challenge for poorer districts

Unified School District 377 in rural Kansas is facing a facilities dilemma: Aging school buildings need renovations and its central office's heating system stopped working, but multiple attempts to raise local taxes to fund maintenance work have failed, and the last successful bond campaign was in 1974, according to The Hechinger Report.The problem reflects a nationwide trend, as districts spend roughly $46 billion less each year than is needed to maintain “healthy and safe” school facilities, a 2016 report by the 21st Century School Fund revealed. A February House education committee hearing also explored this issue, finding poorer districts often face more challenges in raising money through bonds than wealthier districts do, The Hechinger Report notes.Though states usually pay for some school construction costs, nearly half contribute less than 10% to district capital funding needs, relying on local school districts to make up the balance. However, the difference between the tax base in wealthy and poor districts means that funding for school facilities under the current system is “inherently and persistently inequitable,” according to the 21st Century School Fund report.