Today’s facility needs did not happen overnight.
To better understand the condition of school buildings, McPherson Public Schools partnered with Building Control Systems (BCS) and incite Design Studio (iDS). These firms reviewed each building and major system and estimated the cost to address aging and worn-out systems. The full reports are available on the district website.
Based on these assessments, the estimated maintenance backlog for MPS’s six instructional buildings is about $41.5 million.
As buildings age, more money is needed just to keep them running. This is true even when regular maintenance is done. However, school operating budgets are designed to run schools, not replace major systems all at once.
For the current year, the district budgeted about $5.45 million for operations and maintenance. This includes staff salaries, utilities, cleaning supplies, insurance, and small improvements. Even if every dollar of that budget went toward the backlog, it would not be enough, and new needs would continue to arise.
That is why long-term planning and additional funding are needed. Bond funding helps address large facility needs at one time, reduce emergency repairs, and build a strong foundation for the future.
When school buildings are safe, modern, and functional, they support learning every day. This bond plan is about creating strong schools that help keep students inspired and engaged.