While the primary focus of school district leadership is student success, the condition of school facilities increasingly demands leadership’s attention. Superintendents and finance directors are balancing instructional priorities with the realities of aging buildings, deferred maintenance and growing community expectations. For many districts, facility management has become one of the most pressing and complex responsibilities they face.

A recent survey of 250 superintendents and finance directors conducted by ESG reveals the scope of facility challenges facing public K-12 schools. The findings paint a picture of urgent needs, tight timelines and leaders grappling with infrastructure demands amid funding uncertainties and increased competition for resources.

These insights are explored in greater detail in the Inside View Report and Infographic, which pair the survey results with practical takeaways for school leaders navigating facility decisions today.

The numbers tell the story

When asked about the biggest concerns they hear from staff and the community, 41% of school leaders identified a deferred maintenance backlog as their top challenge. Safety and security concerns followed closely at 30%, while 18% pointed out outdated classrooms and spaces as their primary issue. The remaining respondents indicated “other.”

Perhaps more telling is the urgency behind these concerns. Approximately 68% said they need renovations in the next 12 months and 40% said they’re needed in the next six months. Yet, with budgets set a year in advance, schools are unlikely to have this funding on hand.

These timelines are not surprising: the average age of a public K-12 educational facility is 49 years, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. Likewise, more than 50% of public-school districts need to update or replace multiple building systems, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

The Inside View Report and Infographic bring these data points together in a clear, visual format, making it easier for district leaders to share facility challenges and timelines with boards, staff and community stakeholders.

Grappling with the decision to replace or extend the life of expensive systems at the end of their lifespan is a frequent issue for many superintendents. Meanwhile, the everyday wear and tear of serving hundreds or thousands of students accelerates the deterioration of everything from flooring and furniture to infrastructure.

Safety and security concerns add another layer of complexity. While districts must focus on major security threats, everyday vandalism also eats steadily into their maintenance budgets. Over time, these visible issues can also affect community perception and trust.

A strategic approach to funding challenges

The timing couldn't be worse. With ESSER funding expired, federal dollars in question and school choice options on the rise, district leaders must address ever-expanding facility needs with fewer resources. This creates a reactive maintenance cycle that undercuts strategic facility improvements. Emergency repairs cost more and often fail to address underlying system problems. Meanwhile, the list of deferred maintenance continues to grow.

It doesn’t need to be this way. It is possible to balance deferred maintenance items with modernized facilities, educational requirements with budget realities and community expectations with operational constraints. The key is to work with a strategic partner that approaches infrastructure as a long-term system rather than a series of one-off projects.

At Energy Systems Group, we’ve built a comprehensive approach that accounts for overall needs and lifetime expenses. Where a typical contractor might focus on isolated issues, we analyze how HVAC systems, building envelope, lighting and security work together to create environments that support learning while controlling costs.

Just as important, we evaluate how systems will perform over the next 15 to 20 years, factoring in local climate trends, energy costs and operational requirements. This long-term view helps districts ensure their equipment is adequately sized for weather extremes and expected enrollment changes so they realize a better return on their investment. It also provides school leaders with a complete understanding of lifetime costs so they can select options that fit within their long-term financial forecasts.

Ready to move from reactive maintenance to strategic facility management?

Districts that take a holistic, forward-looking approach are better positioned to stabilize budgets, improve learning environments and build community confidence. Our team can help you assess your current challenges, identify funding strategies and develop a holistic approach that addresses multiple facility needs simultaneously.

Download the Inside View Report and Infographic to explore how 250 school leaders are prioritizing facility investments, navigating funding constraints and planning for the future of their districts.

Contact us to discover how the right partnership can transform your facility challenges into opportunities for enhanced learning environments and improved budget stability.