Permanent Improvement

Permanent Improvement. Has a nice ring to it. Sort of gives a feeling of confidence, security, longevity. But as it turns out, it’s not really very sexy.
A “permanent improvement” with school levy money is defined as anything with an expected life span of 5 years or more. It can include major repairs to buildings and grounds. It can cover such things as books and computers. And buses and salt spreaders.
When you, the voters of Marietta City Schools District voted to continue sending permanent improvement monies to the district last spring you sent a clear message to continue to invest the funds wisely in maintaining your buildings and grounds. You are interested in the long term health of the district.
Your message has been heard and heeded. Your money will be invested as wisely as the information available permits. But not as quickly as perhaps expected.
One of the higher cost projects explained to the voters in meetings was replacing windows in several of the buildings.
We’re talking big bucks here. Hundreds of thousands of dollars at each building for such a project. But there are things to consider before committing such large amounts of capital. Taxpayer funds.
Our district has suffered a loss of students over the past ten years that amounts to nearly one thousand. We are down from our highest enrollment by nearly 50%. The logical question is, how much space do we need five or ten years from now if the trend continues? What do we look like in 15 or 20 years?
The questions are complicated by the various ages and sizes of the buildings. The issue is further complicated by the consideration of possibly having state funding help to construct a new building.
Let us leave the new building question for a future discussion. Suffice to say that we are many years away from a new building and we are far down the list of funding assistance. Even if we could afford and would be willing to pay our share. We must focus on the realities of our present and immediate future.
Washington School is the building most in need of window replacement. The estimates received are in the range of $300,000. A considerable investment. And maybe not a good one.
The information available from various sources tells us the return on the investment of new window replacement is in the neighborhood of 27 years. That is, your investment will pay for itself in energy savings over a 27 year period.
Given our declining enrollment, who can say that Washington School will still be in use in 27 years? No one knows for sure. It’s a tough call. Yet the condition of the windows calls out for action.
There is a bright light. Some out of the box thinking has lead to investigating using local businesses and craftsmen to rebuild the existing windows. Restore their integrity and maintain their design as near original as possible rather than imposing new windows on the old structure.
Here’s the best part. Estimates received to date indicate that project may be possible for something under $50,000. Nearly a quarter million dollars savings. Money that can be used for other repairs, books, computers and other permanent improvement needs.
Far from a done deal there are still some considerations, but it looks like your money may be better invested for the long term than originally planned. A case of making do with what you have becoming a savings in the long run. A happy turn of events.
This and other articles and comments may be read at: http://mariettacityschoolboard.blogspot.com.