V. F. School Facilities
Findings and Background
1. Due to lack of planning and/or lack of local financial resources, facilities in many #10, #9 and #8 schools have deteriorated and there are substantial deferred maintenance needs. Some #7 and #6 schools currently face, or may soon face, a similar problem. Several high schools also have large deferred maintenance needs.
Total deferred maintenance costs in #10, #9 and #8 schools that require immediate attention is $7.6 million. An additional $4.0 million is needed in the next two to ten years.
It is estimated that $10.5 million must come from outside sources to fund the elementary school deferred maintenance needs.
Deferred maintenance costs in archdiocesan high schools is estimated to be $___ million.
2. Many of the deanery 9, 14, 15 and 16 school buildings are inadequate, lacking facilities that are essential for a quality educational program. Providing for the most essential classrooms and new facilities is estimated to cost $7.6 million.
3. The Archdiocese has not yet required a process that requires parishes and schools to project and annually budget for deferred maintenance needs.
4. Failure to maintain quality school facilities can jeopardize the quality of the educational program. Also, it is more cost effective to maintain buildings in good condition than to bring them back from a state of deterioration.
5. Catholic elementary school facility costs addressed in this report are not exclusively or even primarily a school issue. Each elementary school facility is the responsibility of a local parish. Consequently, funding for most of these facility costs will need to come from outside the school operating budget.
Footnote: See the Facility Cost Report - March 2003, for more details.
Objectives and strategies
1. Deferred maintenance and needed facilities in #10, #9 and #8 elementary schools ($21 million), #7 and #6 schools ($4 million) and inner-city high schools, ($__ million), must be funded through outside sources and/or an archdiocesan-wide capital fund drive.
Strategies1.1 The focus and scope of a fund drive is addressed in Section V. - Capital Needs.
2. Department of Catholic Schools' policies will require that each school conduct a professional analysis and have a deferred maintenance plan that is updated each year.
Strategies2.1 A professional analysis will be made of each school facility and a five-year deferred maintenance plan developed, including the cost of implementing the plan.
2.2 Parishes and schools will be required to submit the facility plan and projected costs to the Department of Catholic Schools, along with a recommended funding plan. The local school council should participate in development of the facility plan and the funding proposal.
2.3 Each school will be required to have a budget line item that provides a minimum of 2% and preferably 4% of the annual operating budget for facility costs. Facility costs will be prorated between the school and parish. These funds will be placed in a Capital Projects Account and used only for building-related costs.
