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School districts across the North Country are asking for help from Albany as energy costs surge, warning that residents could see a tax hike if relief doesn’t come. LaFargeville Superintendent Travis Hoover said the district’s utility bill jumped from $12,000 in January to $26,000 in February, an increase of $14,000 in one month. “We’ve already…

An Arizona judge has ordered the state to fix its school facilities funding system, a decision that Crane School District says reinforces the state’s responsibility to adequately fund schools. The ruling, issued March 4, gives lawmakers eight months to create a constitutional funding system. It’s the result of a 2017 lawsuit brought forward by four…

In the world of institutional management, the calendar is deceptive. We talk about summer maintenance, but from an electrical perspective, the most critical work happens while the snow is still melting. The months of March and April are the best strategic window for your facility to plan for the summer. The difference between a chaotic…

Because of its aging infrastructure, the Olmsted Falls City School District started a facilities master plan effort more than two years ago that recently culminated in recommendations from a volunteer committee. The proposal comes with a roughly $87 million price tag. “The group ultimately decided to make a recommendation to do a combined condense, renovate…

The state School Building Authority has granted extensions to school construction projects taking place in 10 counties. The approval came during the SBA’s quarterly meeting in Charleston. SBA Executive Director Andy Neptune said the reasons for the extensions vary. He said some of them are linked to winter weather and supply chain issues. “Both of…

At their March 23 meeting, the Medford Comprehensive High School Building Committee voted on six final designs for the high school. Whittling the potential designs down from 29, committee members discussed design priorities ranging from site safety and security to ensuring strong counseling and community health support. Members also debated how a new pool might…

Various summer capital maintenance projects in the Waunakee Community School District were approved by the school board at its meeting on March 9, including more than $2.7 million of work at the high school. Along with agreeing to establishing a budget of $1 million in capital maintenance work for 2026-27, approval was given only to…

Several times a year, a heat wave rolls through the East Bay, leaving hundreds of Oakland classrooms sweltering.  In aging buildings, which mostly lack adequate cooling systems, teachers have tried all sorts of creative ways to keep their students and their classrooms cool. At Sequoia Elementary School, Susan Chiodo once dipped bandanas in icy water…

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill delivered her inaugural budget address earlier this month, outlining her administration’s plan to protect children’s futures through a $12.4 billion investment in K-12 schools for FY 2027. “My budget is focused on ensuring kids in New Jersey have access to the best education and brightest possible future,” said Sherrill. “The…

City officials said they will likely miss a deadline to comply with a class-size mandate set by state law. The admission came amid an hours long City Council hearing where local lawmakers pressed school construction officials about their compliance. A 2022 state law requires city public schools to cap class sizes between 20 and 25…