The vast majority of urban, public grade schools in California are paved-over “nature deserts” sorely lacking in trees or shade — leaving most of the state’s 5.8 million school-age children to bake in the sun during breaks from the classroom as rising global temperatures usher in more dangerous heat waves.

That’s the conclusion by a team of California researchers from UCLA, UC Davis and UC Berkeley who studied changes in the tree cover at 7,262 urban public schools across the Golden State from 2018 through 2022.

The ongoing joint project, which drew from urban tree canopy maps developed by study partners the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the U.S. Forest Service, revealed that 85% of the schools lost about 1.8% of tree cover on average in that time span.

The situation appears to be just as worrisome today, the team said.

The researchers also collaborated with the nonprofit Green Schoolyards America, which found in its own 2024 study that California’s public K-12 schoolyards have a median tree cover of just 6.4%. And more than half of that canopy exists only as decoration at school entrances, in parking lots and along campus perimeters.

Governor Ned Lamont, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, and Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Commissioner Michelle Gilman today announced the launch of a new, interactive data visualization dashboard showcasing the State of Connecticut’s School Construction Grant Program. 

The dashboard, hosted on the state’s open data portal, provides an accessible, transparent view of school construction projects across Connecticut. Since Fiscal Year 2020, the state has awarded 314 grants totaling nearly $4 billion to districts to build, expand, and modernize school facilities. 

“Providing funding for modern, safe, and inspiring schools is one of the smartest investments we can make for Connecticut’s children, teachers and families," Governor Lamont said. "Every school building project represents an opportunity for students to learn, for educators to succeed, and for communities to grow. This dashboard gives residents a clear view of how the state is supporting that progress and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability.” 

The launch event took place at the new Cromwell Middle School, a $69 million project supported by the state through a 49.64% reimbursement rate, resulting in an estimated $34 million state grant. The Cromwell project exemplifies the strong partnership between state and local governments in providing safe, modern learning environments for students. 

“Today’s launch is about more than numbers; it’s about school facilities that meet the needs of our students and educators,” said Lt. Governor Bysiewicz. “In this new dashboard, residents can see how state dollars are improving schools in their communities. Since FY2020, Connecticut has invested almost $4 billion in school buildings. The Cromwell Middle School project is the perfect example of what happens when state and local partners work together.” 

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — In the southwest part of Grand Island, developing -- including housing -- continues to be built.

What does this mean for the city as it goes 5, 10, 15 even 25 years into the future? It's a question Grand Island Public Schools is working to answer as part of a master facilities plan.

Grand Island Public Schools said data shows Grand Island could grow by up to 20,000 people by 2050. Superintendent Matt Fisher said this would lead to an increase in students.

“So, when you start breaking that down, what does that mean for our preschool? What does that mean for our elementaries? What does that mean for our MS and what happens with our high school as that growth happens?" Fisher said. "That’s really what we are trying to position ourselves for and to really think about. What will we need 25 years from now?”

To address its facilities needs with a growing population, GIPS plans to undergo a facilities master plan where the district will gather feedback from stakeholders to hear what they want to see when it comes to schools.

Dive Brief:
Following a win in Arizona by low-income school districts over built-in state disparities in facilities funding, plaintiffs have sued California over something similar. A group of students, parents and advocacy organizations are contending the state’s reliance on local bond financing to meet the bulk of school facilities’ capital needs systematically widens the gap between have and have-not districts.
“State funding for modernization of aging school facilities … provides more funding to wealthy districts based on their local wealth, enabling them to meet local funding requirements more easily, which in turn qualifies them for more state bond matching funds,” say the plaintiffs in the complaint, filed Oct. 23 with the California Superior Court in Alameda County.
The funding gap violates the equal protection and education clauses of the state’s constitution, the plaintiffs say. The lawsuit seeks to rewrite the funding formula so it’s more needs-based and less reliant on how successful, and how quickly, districts are in generating their share of the funds.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — In 2022, Township High School District 214 ordered a comprehensive facility condition assessment to identify needs in its six high schools and specialized schools. Officials said the results indicate around $850 million is required to fix up the buildings over a number of years.

Critical infrastructure repairs, accessibility improvements, and modernization of learning environments to support current and future programs are among the areas that need to be addressed.

As part of a desired "community-wide conversation about the future of its school buildings," the district is inviting residents to weigh in. The district is offering the following opportunities:

Community members peppered their Montclair school officials with questions Thursday night on construction projects that voters approved three years ago in a $187.7 million bond referendum.

Figures the district’s architect of record presented show the district has bid out about $77.63 million worth of its projects comprising about 41% of the total budget. Conor O’Brien, a project executive at Legacy Construction Management Inc., said the district is on track to finish the work in 2029.

Heightened Interest: The update on school construction given by Superintendent Ruth B. Turner and the district’s architects carried increased weight amid the district’s $19.6 million deficit. It’s a shortfall that has prompted the district to ask voters for a $1,738 tax increase on the home assessed at the township’s average of nearly $640,000 in two ballot questions. The alternative, according to school officials, would force the district to lay off over 100 staff members and cut programs.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Murfreesboro City Schools is anticipating a kindergarten boom next year, and they might need a new school to keep up with the anticipated growth.
This year, the district enrolled about 9,000 students, which is a 360 student decrease from last year.
The district’s smallest enrollment numbers are in August, September and May. They normally peak around Christmas time. Right now, sixth grade is down 48 students this year compared to last year. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the district has lost over 200 sixth grade students.
Several districts around the state, including in the Murfreesboro area, are seeing lower kindergarten numbers. But MCS Director of Schools Trey Duke said the district is anticipating an increase in kindergarteners next year.
“In this changing educational environment with vouchers, with charter schools, with the push for homeschooling, with a continued push for school choice, it’s becoming really difficult for us to really do some long-term forecasting of where we need growth,” Duke said.
 

At an elementary school in southwest Boise, Idaho, in the fall of 2020, children in pre-K went to their recess on the playground, laughing and climbing ladders to reach the slide. One 3-year-old boy sat on the sidelines.

The loose woodchips prevented the boy, who uses a wheelchair, from joining his classmates. There were no swings he could use or textured panels or blocks he could play with. The only student in the class who used a medical stroller, he was relegated to watching his classmates play as a staff member stood with him.

Another year, he often spent recess inside his classroom.

“It was heartbreaking,” said his dad, Grant Schlink, at a neighborhood park where he pushed his son laying back on a swing made of a large circular disk that curved up on the sides. The boy, now 8, sported sunglasses and Converse shoes. The Schlinks requested that their child’s name not be used to protect his privacy.

The playgrounds at Silver Sage Elementary excluded children like Schlink’s son, even though they had been updated by the West Ada School District in 2016 — decades after the Americans with Disabilities Act required new construction to be fully accessible to all students.

A dire warning in Montgomery County about the state of public school buildings as the superintendent says the district is running out of money.
FOX 5's Maureen Umeh was at Magruder High School. It's one of the campuses that has been in need of repair for decades now, and those repairs may not come even if money is available. That's because  MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor says there simply is not enough money to fix all the schools in the county that need help. He says, on top of that, enrollment has been declining sharply.
Aging schools in crisis
Umeh says Montgomery County Public Schools has faced criticism for repeatedly requesting increased funding without fully accounting for inflation and long-term cost escalation. Officials say the district’s annual budget appeals to the county council overlook key financial factors, leading to recurring shortfalls.
Taylor is asking for $2.7 billion over six years to replace and renovate dozens of aging buildings, including Eastern Middle, Sligo Middle, and Damascus High School. Silver Spring International Middle School would close altogether under his proposal. MCPS operates more than 230 buildings, and many are more than 50 years old. Now Taylor says even that multi-billion dollar ask only covers half of the actual facility needs. Parents say something needs to be done now.
 

Margate Middle School has once again found itself in the center of Broward County’s ongoing facilities crisis. The latest Facility Condition Assessment (FCA), presented to the School Board ahead of the October 21, 2025 workshop, estimates $50.5 million in repair and replacement needs at the school, making it one of the costliest middle school sites in the district.

Located at 500 NW 65th Avenue, Margate Middle’s aging campus received a 10-year Facility Condition Index (FCI) of 22.4%, according to Bureau Veritas’ analysis. In facility terms, that score indicates a building nearing the end of its useful service life. The FCI compares the cost of required repairs with the cost of full replacement. A facility exceeding 20% is generally classified as being in “poor” condition, signaling extensive deferred maintenance and high renovation urgency.

The assessment comes as Margate Middle remains years behind on its promised SMART Program renovations, despite more than $23.5 million already allocated for upgrades. Those improvements originally approved under the 2014 General Obligation Bond include new roofs, HVAC systems, fire alarms, restrooms, and updated art and music labs. As of June 2025. The school was classified as in “active construction” according to the September 2025 District Educational Facilities Plan publication.

The FCA report, combined with previous project data, paints a picture of a school long overdue for substantial investment. Modular classrooms intended to support phased renovation are still in limited use as contractors finalize plumbing and safety systems. Meanwhile, critical infrastructure like electrical systems and air conditioning units continue to age past their intended lifespan.

GREAT BARRINGTON — Should Berkshire Hills Regional School District taxpayers spend $89 million on a brand new building for Monument Mountain Regional High School or put that money toward repairing the current one?

That’s the question voters in Great Barrington, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge will answer Nov. 4 when they decide whether to allow the district to borrow $152 million and if the towns can override the Massachusetts Proposition 2 1/2 that limits how much property taxes can increase each year.

No matter what, taxpayers will be on the hook for major expenses. The 60-year-old school has reached the end of its natural life and requires significant repairs if it’s not replaced.

HAGERSTOWN- The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a bill that could “facilitate the process by which school facilities are assessed and prioritized.

House Bill 1701 was introduced by Representatives Elizabeth Fiedler, Lindsay Powell, Tarik Khan, and Tarah Probst prior to being passed last week.

“You can’t fix a problem until you know the scope of what you’re dealing with, and this bill gets us to that place,” Fiedler said. “H.B. 1701 would help us compile comprehensive data on Pennsylvania’s school buildings and ensure that recommendations on our most urgent funding needs are made by experts. That way, we can move quickly and efficiently to support schools in making repairs.”

Fiedler noted that a wide scope of important building information would be provided, including the age of the buildings and their renovation history, building size and enrollment capacity. The assessments would also consider factors such as heating and ventilation, ADA compliance and environmental risk factors such as asbestos and mold.

The Middleton School District celebrated the completion of a new facility — Middleton Career Campus: Construction — with a ribbon cutting and open house on Monday. 
Around 100 people gathered at the event, including Middleton Mayor Jackie Hutchison and Rep. Mike Moyle.
Food trucks and refreshments marked the occasion while attendees toured the new facility, which started construction in February.
Middleton high school students will learn technical construction skills as well as construction-oriented math and English in the new facility, Middleton Superintendent Marc Gee explained to the crowd.
In the new facility, students will switch between a lab, where they practice handiwork and technical skills, and classrooms, where they'll be instructed in math and English as they apply to the trade.
The facility cost around $2 million, which came from an Idaho Career Ready Students Grant, and Idaho House Bill 521, a bill passed in 2024 that issued public school districts funds to modernize their facilities. Steel for the building was donated by Rob and Nancy Roberts of R&M Steel, a Caldwell-based metal building manufacturer.
 

Bulloch County residents will soon have the opportunity to voice their opinion on the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, which has been responsible for the funding of important projects over the last two decades.
Bulloch County Schools has voted to place a continuation of the current 1 cent sales tax on the municipal election ballot set for November 4, 2025. 
This education special purpose local option sales tax (E-SPLOST) only exists for a five-year period and must be periodically voted on by Bulloch County’s registered voters. Bulloch County Schools is currently in its fifth E-SPLOST cycle, which will end on December 31, 2027.
It is currently estimated that one penny of sales tax revenues is the equivalent of five mills of property tax revenues. The alternative to a sales tax is an increase in property taxes, paid by Bulloch County property owners.
 

On Thursday, the School Committee gave administrators direction on how to proceed with HVAC projects at the middle and high schools.
Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Susan Rothermich gave a presentation on how to accomplish these projects without putting more debt and tax burden on the community.
“We’re trying to time [this] out to have little or no impact,” Rothermich said.
At the high school, the budget cost for the geothermal water to water heat pump (WWHP) system totals $18.9 million. MassSave and Federal Tax Credits are $1.3 million and $6.4 million, respectively.
Rothermich said the WWHP option is most favorable, with baseline energy savings of $6,500 and cooling adjustment energy savings of $86,000. The savings on geothermal is more than what would be achieved replacing in kind what currently exists and adding cooling.
The net cost comparisons would be $11.2 million for geothermal and $11.5 million for traditional plus cooling.
Rothermich spoke about the debt for the Charleswood School project, noting the construction contract is $22,684,689 under budget and contingency is $9,472,944 under budget, for a total of $38 million under budget.
Rothermich emphasized, “However, the project is early on and there will be change orders; $38 million will not be the number, but it gives you an idea of the magnitude where we stand [now].”
 

New Mexico public school districts have begun receiving portions of $35 million appropriated during the regular legislative session earlier this year for school security and safety improvements during the 2026 fiscal year.

The funds were appropriated through House Bill 450, which set aside funds for myriad capital outlay projects across the state. That includes include $50 for school security, continuing technical education equipment, school maintenance and repair, of which $35 million will benefit security upgrades. Majority Whip Sen. Michael Padilla (D-Albuquerque) advocated for including the security and safety fund appropriation in the bill.

“The objective here is to make sure that the school grounds are safe, warm, inviting. That they’re a place of learning, not a place that you need to be worried about going to,” Padilla told Source NM.

North Bend School District 13 told the board on Oct. 15 it has joined the Oregon Department of Education’s statewide facility assessment program and expects a free, comprehensive five-year capital-improvement plan to identify deferred maintenance and costs.

"This is coming to us for free, which I think is this it's amazing that we're able to get on board with this," the superintendent said, describing the statewide assessment that will produce a transparent list of deferred-maintenance priorities and costs and help the district budget for projects.

The superintendent also reported that the North Bend Middle School control and boiler replacement project has been completed and that the district plans to refurbish the removed boilers for future use at North Bay while it awaits a larger seismic retrofit scheduled for summer 2027 or 2028.

From preschool to high school, officials in Naperville School District 203 have unveiled updates to specific school improvement plans for each of the nearly two-dozen educational buildings that serve students of all ages and skill levels.

The Naperville 203 board of education has in place a policy that requires administrators report on school-specific improvement plans annually. Each school’s specific goals are encapsulated in a document available on Board Docs, the portal the district uses to upload board of education meeting materials. 

The Naperville 203 board had a preliminary discussion of the school improvement plans at its Monday, Sept. 22 meeting, and adoption of the documents is scheduled at the Monday, Oct. 6 meeting.

DETROIT — What was once an abandoned middle school just steps away from Michigan Central Station is now becoming a nonprofit center designed around artistry, creativity and connection.
Spread across multiple buildings, Kintsugi Village is set to open with an early childhood education center, artist incubator, culinary kitchen, retreat space and outdoor gardens. All of these combined are meant to create what co-founder Paul Spiegelman calls “a place where people can grow, create and connect.” 
“We believe that when we come together, we can build something truly beautiful, one piece at a time," Spiegelman said in a recent news release. “This campus is about resilience, connection, and embracing the beauty in our stories and in each other.”
Kintsugi Village officials say they aim to give artists, educators and families a shared "home base" that can be a workshop, classroom or studio to encourage collaboration between programs that don’t typically share the same roof.
 

A protest outside Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School Wednesday morning drew attention to ongoing maintenance problems in the territory’s schools, including failing air conditioning units.

Craig Benjamin, executive director of the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance, acknowledged the issues and pointed to staffing and funding shortages as major obstacles to making repairs.

“The thing that I know is bothering them, and us, is that the classrooms are hot,” said Benjamin, referring to the protesters voicing their frustration over the failing air conditioning units on campus.

Benjamin explained that the bureau is responsible for maintaining more than 760 air conditioning units across the district, with only two government-employed technicians available to handle repairs.