Call to Action:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Recognize the scale and urgency of the K–12 facilities crisis, including the $100B deferred maintenance gap and its impact on student outcomes and teacher retention.
2. Evaluate strategies such as TCO-based decision making, performance contracts, and innovative funding sources to address deferred maintenance.
3. Apply insights from peer districts and panelists to prioritize facility improvements and communicate urgency effectively to stakeholders, policymakers, and voters.

Abstract: This isn’t a lecture—it’s a panel of practitioners who have been in the trenches. Each panelist will share their experiences, knowledge, and best practices from navigating the challenges of deferred maintenance and school funding. Representing an “interdisciplinary set of perspectives” including viewpoints from a COO, a School Board leader, a General Contractor, and an Architect where the panel will walk us through their journeys: what worked, what didn’t, and what they learned along the way. Across America, K–12 schools are facing an infrastructure crisis that can no longer be ignored. More than 40% of school facilities are over 40 years old, and one in four students attends a school with serious deficiencies—from leaking roofs to unsafe flooring to outdated systems that no longer support modern learning. Years of underfunding have created a $100 billion annual gap just to keep schools safe and operational, leaving a massive backlog of deferred maintenance. This crisis goes beyond bricks and mortar. The quality of school facilities directly influences student health, attendance, achievement, and teacher retention. In fact, nearly 44% of K–12 buildings are considered “unhealthy” due to poor indoor air quality and deferred maintenance issues—conditions that contribute to asthma, chronic absenteeism, and lost instructional time. Yet too often, short-term fixes win out over long-term solutions, multiplying costs and prolonging inequities. This interactive session will engage participants directly sharing what’s happening in their own districts and learning from peers about strategies that have worked or failed. Together, we’ll explore how Total Cost of Ownership principles, innovative funding approaches, and smarter use of contracts can help schools move beyond “band-aid” solutions. Attendees will leave with not just insights from the panel, but also practical ideas and a stronger narrative to advocate for healthier, more sustainable schools.    

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize the scale and urgency of the K–12 facilities crisis—including the $100B annual funding gap, deferred maintenance backlog, and the direct link to student and teacher outcomes.
2. Evaluate practical approaches such as TCO-based decision making, performance contracting, and innovative funding models to improve school facilities.
3. Apply lessons learned from peer districts and panelists to prioritize facility renewal efforts and make informed, cost-effective choices.
4. Communicate more effectively with policymakers, voters, and stakeholders by framing facility improvements as investments in student health, academic performance, and teacher retention.