Minnesota families can now access a new interactive map showing lead test results for drinking water in public and charter schools, as well as licensed child care centers. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) developed the tool to increase transparency and help parents understand potential lead exposure risks.

The map is part of a new law that took effect on July 1, 2024, requiring both schools and licensed child care centers to test for lead in drinking water and report their results to MDH. While the map is not yet fully populated due to different testing cycles, facilities that have completed recent tests are already included. “The new map lets you search by the name of the facility, the school, or the licensed child care center, and you can see if that facility has reported results to the Department of Health,” said Anna Schliep, MDH’s Lead in Drinking Water Coordinator.

According to Schliep, lead is rarely found in Minnesota’s source water or the fresh water from public utilities. Instead, contamination typically comes from plumbing materials containing lead, particularly in older buildings. “Lead can impact all age groups. Infants and children are most primarily at risk, but it can cause difficulties with damage to the brain, kidneys, and nervous system or cause slowing of development in learning, behavior, or even hearing problems,” Schliep explained.

Nearly two dozen children in the tiny village of Sleetmute, Alaska, arrive for school each morning to a small brown building that is on the verge of collapse.

Every year for the past 19 years, the local school district has asked the state for money to help repair a leaky roof. But again and again, the state said no. Over time, water ran down into the building, causing the supporting beams to rot. A windowpane cracked under pressure as heavy snow and ice built up on the roof each winter. Eventually, an entire wall started to buckle, leaving a gaping hole in the exterior siding.

In 2021, an architect concluded that the school, which primarily serves Alaska Native students, “should be condemned as it is unsafe for occupancy.”

The following year, Taylor Hayden, a resident who helps with school maintenance, opened a hatch in the floor to fix a heating problem and discovered a pool of water under the building, where years of rain and snowmelt had reduced several concrete footings to rubble.

“Just like someone took a jackhammer to it,” Hayden said.

The Sleetmute school, nestled on the upper reaches of the Kuskokwim River, amid the spruce and birch forest of Alaska’s Interior, has few options. Like many schools in Alaska, it’s owned by the state, which is required by law to pay for construction and maintenance projects.

Yet over the past 25 years, state officials have largely ignored hundreds of requests by rural school districts to fix the problems that have left public schools across Alaska crumbling, according to an investigation by KYUK and ProPublica.

Legislation with the potential to significantly change Florida’s educational landscape has cleared its first House hurdle after its sponsor heard concerns about its potentially negative effects.
The Education Administration Subcommittee voted 13-5 on party lines to advance the bill (HB 123), which would exclude School Boards, teachers and school administrators from votes over whether to convert public schools into charter schools.
That decision would fall instead to parents with children enrolled at the school in question, whom current statutes already give a vote. Approving a charter conversion would require a 50% vote by parents, the same threshold given to teachers now.
Pensacola Republican Rep. Alex Andrade, the bill’s sponsor, said parents — not elected officials or unelected educators — are “the most reliable metric for a school’s performance.”
“Who cares more about that child than that child’s parents?” he said.
Local governments would still have some say. Andrade’s measure would create a new provision under which cities could — but wouldn’t have to — seek a charter school conversion for any public school that has received a grade below an “A” from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) for five consecutive years.
The bill would also restrain school districts. It would require School Boards that want to buy or acquire real estate property to submit a five-year plan for it at a public meeting.
More notably, if a school district has seen its enrollment decline over the preceding five years, it would be prohibited from buying more property and must instead sell land or buildings the State Board of Education deems surplus.
 

To modernize the Boston's only vocational school, the city is looking at a $700 million renovation or rebuild of Madison Park Technical Vocational High School.

Boston.com reports that decades of disinvestment have resulted in an aging campus that struggles to support its educational programs. 

“The cost estimates are quite high,” said Superintendent Mary Skipper. “Vocational schools, in general, are the most expensive schools to build because they generally need the most space, and we expect Madison Park’s redesign to be the most expensive capital project in Boston’s history."

Skipper said that to meet the full vision for the school, the city is looking for funding from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to offset the high costs. 

Historically, said Dion Irish, Boston’s chief of operations, the city has received about 30% of the funding from the MSBA for project costs. 

After exploring different options to reduce costs, Irish said the city doesn’t believe it can deliver the project using only city resources without significantly scaling back the plans. 

A bill to recharge a rural school facilities fund is heading to the House. 

The House Education Committee Monday unanimously advanced House Bill 338. The bipartisan legislation attempts to spark a dormant facilities fund that could offer gap financing for school construction projects. 

The Salmon School District is again serving as a poster child — as it did a year ago, when lawmakers passed a $1.5 billion facilities funding bill. Salmon voters in May approved a $20 million bond for a new school building while a group of volunteers led a fundraising effort for the remaining $9 million balance. 

Breann Green, a leading member of the volunteer Salmon School Needs Assessment Committee, told lawmakers Monday that the fundraising effort has come up about $3 million short. The committee supports HB 338. “It will be a tool that we may use to finish our school.”

HB 338 would increase the “school facilities cooperative fund” from $25.5 million to $50.5 million, and the bill would remove an existing requirement that recipients surrender to state supervision for the duration of a construction project — if they ask for $5 million or less. 

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Bridgeport Public Schools (BPS) is providing an update on the progress of its Facilities Master Plan, a comprehensive long-term planning framework that will guide the district’s capital investments and facility improvements for the next decade and beyond. This updated plan is crucial for modernizing BPS facilities, addressing compliance challenges, and aligning schools with current and future enrollment needs.

The Facilities Master Plan is driven by the findings of a recent, month-long facilities study, which revealed that the city’s aging school buildings will require up to $709 million in repairs and infrastructure upgrades over the next decade. The study is vital in helping the school board develop a 10-year roadmap for the district’s 37 buildings, including potentially closing some schools and replacing dilapidated structures.

SODA SPRINGS — During the fifth of his seven years as Soda Springs High School principal, Jess McMurray went fishing and caught several big ones during his quest to improve education in welding, auto mechanics, construction and bench carpentry.

Given the dearth of people to fill needs in most employment sectors, McMurray opted to focus on providing students the chance to quickly enter the workforce in specialties available right where they live – at Caribou County’s mines, construction and agriculture.

“Thirty-five percent of those holding college degrees do not find employment in their field of study,” McMurray said. “We need practical skills – no matter what our educational background may be.”

So he grabbed the phone, submitted applications and threw out his line.

“Money is tight,” he said as he described how he envisioned expanding, “but my philosophy is the sky’s the limit.”

Through nothing less than serendipity, he came upon R&M Steel Company, a Caldwell firm specializing in pre-engineered metal buildings, who asked him three simple questions:

What do you need?
What would you like?
What is your fantasy?
His pragmatic Montana roots notwithstanding, R&M awarded the district even more than McMurray’s wildest fantasy – a new 7,200-square-foot building through a grant, to be used for career and technical education (CTE).

Local contributors such as Bayer and Simplot covered new welding equipment. High school students performed interior finish self-help to add insulation and plywood walls covered in corrugated steel with restrooms, classrooms, storage and tool spaces. The school district’s $75,000 helped defray material costs. All tolled, the completed structure and contents will exceed $1.2M, banked via donations, additional grants and the community’s considerable largesse.

With property and casualty insurance costs rising for coastal schools, one local school district has opted for financial savings at the cost of losing some coverage.

The Flour Bluff Independent School District board of trustees approved property, windstorm and flood insurance plans Thursday evening. The decision comes months after the district raised the alarm on the issue with local lawmakers, though the district was able to find additional savings.

But for the future, state lawmakers are currently considering a bill that could provide some aid to coastal schools.

Flour Bluff ISD is a coastal school district. Though all of the district's current schools are located on the mainland, the facilities are sandwiched between Oso Bay and the Laguna Madre. Many students live even farther out on North Padre Island, a barrier island bordering open Gulf of Mexico waters.

RAVENNA, Neb. - A Central Nebraska School District is proposing a bond project which will go towards upgrades that officials say will make the school safer and more modern.
The Ravenna Public School District is asking residents to vote in March on a proposed bond aimed at improving the school’s facilities, with a focus on safety, inclusion and modernizing learning spaces.
The targeted areas include the career, agriculture, and technical education classrooms in addition to a new weight room and improved special education facilities. 
The proposal also includes the construction of a central, more secure entrance for students which will greatly limit the travel between buildings during the school day.
Ravenna Superintendent Ken Schroeder says about 150 students travel back and forth several times a day between the main building and detached classrooms.
He said the entrance and construction is a priority because "if we're having any type of a situation where there might be an unwanted guest on the grounds and we need to secure our perimeter it's a lot more functional to do that if we're all under one roof and we don't have that separation between the current north buildings and the main building.”
Schroeder says residents would likely see a slight decrease in the school district's tax levy rate for the first year after the bond passes.
The district’s levy rate is expected to drop from 71 cents to around 68.8 cents due to the removal of funds from certain accounts used for building improvements.
 

INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis Public Schools is calling for a moratorium on new schools as state lawmakers advance legislation that would force the district to share property tax revenues with dozens of charter schools.

The statement from the school board last week also calls for a limit on the ability of authorizers to allow new charter schools to open — by only allowing the Indianapolis mayor’s office to give new charters the green light. Right now, seven authorizers have the power to let new charters open in Indianapolis.

“There is no way to create a sustainable system if the number of schools within the IPS boundary continues to grow,” the school board said in its Friday statement. “For at least the next two years, as we work toward a collective community vision, no new schools should open. We do not need more schools.”

The demand came shortly after the Indiana Senate passed Senate Bill 518, which would require the district to share revenues from property taxes and referendums as early as 2026. The bill compounds the long-term pressure on IPS — where enrollment declined by over 3% this year — and has led IPS officials to publicly lament the new charters officials have allowed to open within IPS borders. Combined with proposed property tax caps, IPS has said the legislation would force it to close schools.

Charter advocates, however, oppose such a moratorium on new schools and object to changes to restricting authorizing power for now.

The Archuleta School District (ASD) Master Plan Advisory Committee (MPAC) recently discussed the pros and cons of a major renovation versus constructing a new building for the district’s master facilities plan.

Representatives from RTA Architects, as well as ASD Superintendent Rick Holt and MPAC chair Lisa Scott, facilitated the most recent committee meeting held on Monday, Feb. 24, in which committee members discussed in groups the pros and cons of either a major renovation or a new construction project.

Scott clarified that the MPAC is an advisory group, and that the ASD Board of Education will make the final decision as to what the district will pursue in terms of a renovation or new construction project and the appropriate funding needed.

“We are an advisory committee to the school board,” Scott said, explaining the committee’s purpose through the end of this spring is to “understand the status of our school facilities and the options for … remedies. These buildings are old — doesn’t mean they’re horrible — but we do seriously need some remedies.” 

White Bear Lake High School junior Lauryn Belz said she and many of her fellow students don’t feel safe at school, citing numerous lockdowns at schools throughout Minnesota.
“As a student, I believe that it is of the utmost importance that students feel safe in their schools,” she said, calling for funding to create safer school environments.
Rep. Elliott Engen (R-White Bear Township) believes the Legislature should be protecting the safety of all students and school officials. He’s calling his bill, HF15, the "Safe Haven In Every Local District (SHIELD) Act."
“We are talking about something that is really meaningful, and it is a generational impact. And I think that what you’re doing here to protect kids is important,” said Rep. Heather Keeler (DFL-Moorhead).
The House Education Policy Committee approved the bill, as amended, on a voice vote Wednesday and sent it to the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee.
The SHIELD Act, in part, would fund the commissioner of public safety to issue school security grants to school districts and charter schools for the purpose of installing comprehensive, multilayered and integrated security systems, including an evaluation of a school’s current security systems, and training for school staff on using the security systems.

Proposed school closures and consolidations at Pittsburgh Public Schools gained the administration’s formal blessing in a feasibility report delivered Tuesday evening.

The report, presented by Superintendent Wayne Walters and other administrators, backs nearly all of the proposals recommended by consulting firm Education Resource Strategies [ERS] in a plan to realign the school’s resources that drew strong backlash in the fall. Key recommendations include changing the current school grade configurations to a traditional model of K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 grades and closing 14 schools, including 10 building closures. 

“Schools with low enrollment often struggle to sustain a broad and enriching experience, limited access to essential academic and extracurricular programs such as music, art, world, languages and career exposure,” said Walters. “And this disparity means that not all students are receiving the same high-quality education and opportunities simply because of the structure of their school.”

Voters in the Wichita school district have a big decision on Tuesday: whether to approve a $450 million bond issue to modernize schools. The bond issue would pay to rebuild seven elementary and middle schools, close four elementary schools, convert two elementary schools to K-8 buildings and consolidate alternative school programs, among a number of other items.
We asked Eagle readers what they wanted to know about the bond issue. Here are the most commonly asked questions and answers. What is proposed? The district would demolish and rebuild seven buildings, build a new early childhood center, new outdoor athletic fields at Northeast Magnet High School and a new Future Ready Center for Trades at East High School. Two elementary schools would be converted to K-8 schools, and four elementary schools would close. The elementary schools set to close as part of the plan are L’Ouverture, OK, Pleasant Valley and Woodland. Most of those students would be moved to newer schools that were built in the early 2010s or are being rebuilt as part of the bond proposals, according to documents from the school district.
The district is consolidating its alternative learning programs: Wells Alternative Middle School would be expanded to a 6-12 school that includes Sowers Alternative High School. Chester Lewis Academic Learning Center and the Gateway Alternative Program would close in their current buildings and move to the current Coleman Middle School building or other buildings.
 

AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – Auburn City Schools is launching 2025 with a massive investment in education infrastructure, highlighted by a second high school, a new middle school, and the reconstruction of two of the district’s oldest elementary schools.
In total, the ACS 2035 Facilities Master Plan includes an estimated $383 million in capital projects, all funded without the need for new taxes.
The most significant development is the $214 million second high school at Shug Jordan Parkway and North Donahue Drive, with an anticipated opening in fall 2028. Once complete, both high schools will serve students in grades 9-12, shifting away from the current model that separates freshmen.
School officials are working on branding the new high school, including selecting colors and a mascot. Auburn City Schools spokesperson Daniel Chesser emphasized the importance of public engagement in shaping the new school’s identity.
“In January, we opened a survey to gather input from students, teachers, and the public. The survey closed on January 27, and we are now analyzing the data to determine what stakeholders want to see in the new high school,” Chesser said.
Beyond relieving overcrowding at Auburn High School, the second campus will double student opportunities in athletics, fine arts, and extracurricular activities.
 

WASHINGTON — Power outages regularly disrupt school in Arizona’s White Mountain Apache Tribe, leading to spoiled food, limited access to technology and cold classrooms. School administrators sometimes heat buildings with kerosene. In some cases, they must close the school when carbon monoxide levels become too high.

“Our students need and deserve better, and I hope you will help us deliver on the tremendous promise these young people possess,” White Mountain Apache Tribal Chairman Kasey Velasquez told congressional leaders at a Feb. 12 oversight hearing.

During the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing, tribal education leaders told congressional members that the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools face crumbling infrastructure, unsafe conditions and a massive backlog of deferred maintenance, while receiving less than half the per-student funding of other federally operated schools.  

The 183 schools run by BIE have collectively accumulated more than $1 billion in overdue repairs as of September 2022, according to testimony shared by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ariz.) during the hearing. Many maintenance requests have remained unaddressed for years.

Government inspectors recently observed a crumbling foundation and an inoperable boiler at separate schools in the same Arizona town, despite work orders dating back to 2008. About 1,000 orders placed in 2000 remained unaddressed over two decades later, including requests for exit signs, fire alarm systems and replacements for asbestos floor tiles. 

EUREKA — The Eureka School District held a community meeting last month to discuss solutions for aging school facilities and safety concerns.
The school district has not passed a bond in more than 20 years and leaks, mold and crumbling walls continue to raise issues.
“We’ve failed at four bond attempts since that time, the last one being a year ago, but we still have a need to get those things done,” said Eureka School District Superintendent Joel Graves.
The core section of Eureka Middle School is more than 100 years old. Graves said the building is reaching its tipping point.
“Things that have deteriorated over the years from ground leakage and things like that, you know rotted floors, things that we’re always trying to maintain and address but it seems like they are just creeping up all the time," Graves told MTN.
Graves noted the middle school is completely out of compliance for ADA regulations.
 

Joseph Lenz, assistant superintendent of the Pine Bush Central School District, appeared at the Town of Crawford’s February 13 meeting with an important presentation: the district’s 2025 Capital Improvement Project, an initiative that could bring much-needed improvements to its seven schools in Pine Bush and Circleville if residents approve one or both of the plan’s propositions.

The PBCSD, after submitting its Building Condition Survey to the New York State Education Department, estimated that the entire school district needs $121,789,091 in construction work. Since completing the BCS, the district established the Five-Year Capital Facilities Plan and formed the Facilities Committee to determine the necessary short and long-term infrastructure repairs for its schools.

These efforts led to the creation of two propositions that residents can vote on in the next week-and-a-half. Proposition 1 would address the district’s immediate needs, including heating and cooling improvements, roof restorations, fire alarm upgrades, a new athletic complex in Circleville, and replacements to doors, windows, ceilings, and elevators. This proposition would cost $52,260,000, with no increase to residents’ taxes.

LITTLETON — Local school officials say plans are moving forward for a new school for a new Shaker Lane School.
In an announcement, school officials said the Shaker Lane Building Committee has made "notable progress" in collaboration with town and school leaders. The new school would house students in pre-kindergarten through grade 2.
School administrators met on Jan. 29 with the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s Facility Assessment Subcommittee to review the project’s status. According to the Littleton announcement, subcommittee members expressed strong support for Littleton’s presentation and the work completed by the Shaker Lane team.
The current Shaker Lane School, which opened in 1961, was last renovated in 1998. Local school officials say the building has surpassed its useful lifespan and has several issues related to safety, building systems and educational quality.
Littleton school officials have spent years assessing the building’s conditions to determine its ability to support modern educational needs for young students.
 

Last Monday, the Northfield School Board heard a presentation from Director of Finance Val Mertesdorf and Director of Buildings and Grounds Justin Raabolle about the school district’s Proposed operating capital and Long-Term Facilities maintenance budget. The two budgets are a restricted portion of the district general fund, and a series of several state and local formulas determine the amount of funding available. The fund pays for several items but focuses primarily on maintenance projects around the school. Here’s Mertesdorf at the school board meeting: 

“And then all of these are very restrictive. So there’s revenue that comes in and the state has a statute that says here’s what you can and cannot pay for with each of these funding streams. So they have their own fund balance codes. So the revenue that comes in has to be spent on those items and we can’t. Mix and mingle with the other general fund dollars.” – Val Mertesdorf, Director of Finance for the Northfield Public Schools, at the 2/11/2025 School Board Meeting