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Explore updates from NCSI on our blog, catch up on the latest news with our facilities news tracker, browse upcoming events, and find information on funding, recognition, and training opportunities.

Photo of school children studying in a modern school building
Capps Middle School, Warr Acres, OK; Photo Credit: Michael Robinson and DLR Group

NCSI Blog

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Facilities in the News

National
Voter Support Dips as Schools Seek to Borrow More Money
Education Week – September 21, 2026
The Yakima school district went 16 years without asking voters to pass a construction bond. This spring, it finally did, and the measure passed by a hair, just over Washington state’s 60 percent supermajority threshold for approving bonds. “We live in a community that’s very high-poverty,” Superintendent Trevor Greene said, “and for a community to tax itself is a lot to ask.” Now, the work the bond is paying for is visible: Crews have repaved parking lots and begun upgrading playgrounds, and the district of more than 15,000 students is choosing a contractor to replace two aging elementary schools, which will be the district’s first new elementary school buildings in a generation.
Michigan
DPSCD Makes Progress on Long-Needed Air Conditioning Upgrades
Chalkbeat Detroit – September 17, 2026
As the Detroit school district marks the end of its first month of the 2026-27 school year, more than half of its schools now have full air conditioning throughout the building, according to Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. Vitti gave an update on Detroit Public Schools Community District’s ongoing project to modernize its HVAC systems at Tuesday’s board meeting. The investment is part of the district’s $700 million facility master plan, which was implemented in 2022. The plan includes rebuilding, reopening, or demolishing certain schools. DPSCD received the money for the project through one-time federal COVID relief funding. In 2018, about 34% of schools had full air conditioning, Vitti said.
New Jersey
Voters Decide Construction Questions in Special School Election
New Jersey School Boards Association – September 16, 2026
Voters went to the polls for a special school election on Sept. 15, to vote on school construction questions.  Statewide, the New Jersey School Boards Association learned of six boards of education with proposals on the ballot.   Under the Educational Facilities and Construction and Financing Act of 2000, the state will fund at least 40% of eligible school construction costs through annual debt service aid. 
Guam
School Breakdowns Available on GDOE Site
The Guam Daily Post – September 16, 2026
Guam Department of Education Superintendent Judith Won Pat, in response to requests by both the Guam Legislature and the Guam Education Board, uploaded a comprehensive list that shows a school’s age, square footage, and what it would cost to fix or replace what is bad. The list can be found here: https://www.gdoe.net/District/Department/19-Guam-Education-Board/1844-Reporting-Requirements.html. Each of the schools under DOE’s purview has a list that identifies the various parts of  the school’s campus, the year it was built, and what the school needs in dollars for 2026.
California
Chapman Study Finds Some Orange County Schools Face Extreme Heat Risks
Chapman News – September 15, 2026
As Southern California faces more frequent and intense heat waves, a new Chapman University study finds that some students may be spending their school days on campuses that become dangerously hot during extreme heat events. Researchers found that outdoor surfaces at some Orange County public schools reached nearly 122 degrees Fahrenheit — conditions that can affect students during recess, physical education and other activities held outdoors.
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Opportunities

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