What is the condition of your child’s school?

Have you ever wondered about the state of your child's school? In the Puyallup School District, this curiosity is met with a systematic approach to evaluating and assessing the conditions of every building. Conducted every few years, the districtwide assessment aims to understand the age comprehensively and the expected useful life of each system. This approach allows teams to predict potential failures and prioritize funds for proactive replacements and upgrades, ultimately contributing to an enhanced learning environment for students. Now, let us delve into a deeper understanding of this critical process and its implications for student learning. 

The Puyallup School District utilizes a dual approach to evaluate building conditions. The first aspect involves "Predicted Renewals," where teams rely on dependable planning tools to predict when systems might fail based on their age and expected lifespan. This proactive approach allows for effective fund prioritization. Conversely, "Observed Deficiencies" involves continuously monitoring building systems for unusual wear and tear and other factors that might contribute to early or unpredictable failures. Changes in operation are closely observed, considering potential ripple effects on overall system performance. 

Identifying High-Needs Modernizations 

The assessment plays a crucial role in identifying the highest needs for modernization, particularly at facilities with lower performance ratings. Every building component in the district is thoroughly examined and scored on a scale from 0 to 100. This culminates in an "overall building score," a weighted average of four components: facilities condition, modernization, space sufficiency, and energy efficiency. 

Building scores are a key indicator of a facility's condition, ranging from 0 to 100. These scores offer insights into the overall health of the building. The BCA scoring consists of ratings at the component level, with choices that include excellent, good, fair, poor, and unsatisfactory. Individual component scores are combined to produce a total building condition score based on a 100-point scale. 

A higher score indicates a newer and well-maintained facility, while a lower score may signify aging components and potential deficiencies. For instance, buildings with a score of 100 were opened after 2018, highlighting a correlation between building age and overall score. This is crucial as older buildings often house systems with aging components that have exceeded their useful life. 

Assessments recorded through the "Asset Preservation Program" and State Study and Survey identify specific building system upgrades and replacement needs. These include building foundations and slabs, water and gas systems, exterior "envelope" (roofs, walls, windows), interior walls and partitions, interior finishes and flooring, plumbing systems, sanitary sewer systems, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), fire protection and life safety, electrical systems, communications and automated controls, and furnishings and fixtures. 

In 2021, the Citizens (FAC) Committee reported significant findings from the Facilities Condition Assessment, revealing a weighted average of four components. Spinning Elementary scored the lowest among all buildings, indicating that most of its equipment has surpassed its expected useful life. 

Impact on Student Performance 

Poor school conditions have a direct impact on student performance and learning. Research directly links children's ability to learn to the condition of their school environment. These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing the repair and replacement of all facilities. 

Age and Facility Condition 

The age of each facility has a direct link to its condition. Older schools are more challenging to maintain due to the number of systems that exceed their useful life and the inability to address concerns quickly because of outdated materials and obsolete systems. Postponing major system replacements due to a lack of funds advances building system failure, creating exponential deterioration that makes it difficult to catch up on repairs once systems start to fail. 

Annual Reporting: During the 30-year life of the building, school districts must assess the condition of each APP building using the Building Condition Assessment and report the results in a public meeting of the school district board by April 1 of each calendar year. 

Six-Year Certified Reporting: A certified assessor must assess the condition of each APP building using the Building Condition Assessment every 6th year of a building's 30-year life (6, 12, 18, 24, 30). The report results must be presented in a public school district board meeting by April 1 of that year. 

School Capital Funding 

In the realm of construction, the landscape has witnessed a steady increase in building materials and labor costs over the past few years. While there is some relief in the rate of cost escalations, we continue to budget for an estimated 7% rise over the next four years. Although supply availability has improved since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, prolonged lead times still strain our educational infrastructure. From refurbishing aging portables to maintaining heating and cooling systems and shared spaces, our schools need adequate funding to provide optimal learning environments for our children. However, the escalating costs pose challenges in completing these crucial projects on time and within budget. 

On September 7, 2023, the Washington State Supreme Court clarified that funding for school construction is not part of “basic education” or solely the state's duty; it is a collaborative effort between local communities and the State Legislature. 

Puyallup and districts statewide grapple with challenges in passing bonds and levies, directly impacting local property taxes. Since 2015, Puyallup has yet to pass a capital bond or levy. Currently, PSD (Puyallup School District) supports 60 buildings with an estimated replacement value of $1,741,000,000 (about $5 per person in the US), and our lifecycle renewals for construction and system maintenance have averaged around $150,000,000 every six years. PSD’s capital budget, responsible for major maintenance, renovation, and construction projects, is set to run out by 2026, placing district buildings and school capacity in a precarious situation that will long exceed the work and recommendations of our SCUT (School Capacity and Utilization Task) (School Capacity and Utilization Task) Task Force. 

What happens if the upcoming Capital Levy does not pass on February 24, 2023?    

Without additional Capital funding, the district’s ability to address critically deficient buildings and sites would be impacted. If the levy does not pass, we would need to divert funds from basic education to pay for the most critical projects impacting the safety and security of staff and students. Other impacts include: 

• Less than optimal teaching and learning environments. 
• Continued inequitable access to technology. 
• Some students continue to be excluded from playgrounds that are not accessible by wheelchairs. 
• Buildings will continue to deteriorate, creating an even larger backlog of critical projects. 
• Closure of facilities to prevent safety risks to students and staff. 
• Energy conservation and related operational cost savings would not be realized. 
• Fines for non-compliance with the Clean Buildings Act come out of the general fund - impacting resources available for teaching and learning. 

Understanding the condition of our schools is paramount for ensuring a conducive and safe learning environment. The districtwide assessment in Puyallup is a valuable tool in strategic planning, addressing potential issues before they escalate. As we navigate the complexities of maintaining and upgrading our educational facilities, this commitment to assessment and improvement remains central to fostering an environment where students can thrive. 

For more information, including the February 13, 2024, Capital Levy and Capital Budget, visit the following links: 

• Feb. 13, 2024, Capital Levy: http://www.puyallupsd.org/levy 
• Capital Budget: https://puyallupsd.org/capitalbudget 

Learn more about the 2021 Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) report, the Washington Clean Buildings Act, and our Asset Preservation Program. 

• 2021 Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC)
• CFAC Report
• Washington Clean Buildings Act: https://www.puyallupsd.org/about-us/departments/operations/energy-conservation/clean-building-act 
• Asset Preservation Program: Asset Preservation Program - Puyallup School District (puyallupsd.org)