Tag: MSBA (2)

Small Renovation, Big Impact

PINE RIVER-BACKUS HIGH SCHOOL As the students at Pine River-Backus High School packed up for the end of the school year and headed off to summer vacation, bulldozers, machinery, and construction workers filled the site to complete a small addition and renovation to the building. Many months of planning and design began to take shape in physical form at Pine River-Backus High School, and by the fall the construction was complete. Kodet worked with the school district on the design for an addition and renovation to the high school building for almost a year preceding the construction to ensure that the space fit the goals and needs of the school. Part of this process was working with the committee to prepare for the approvals of the School Board and Minnesota Department of Education. Though the overall scope of the project was relatively small, the impact was far reaching. It changed the way students, staff, and visitors interact and experience their everyday environment to work, learn, and play. Construction at Pine River-Backus took place primarily during the summer months so that the students could enter the classrooms on the first day of school in the fall. They were welcomed back with a renovated facility, where changes took place in three main building areas: High School Offices High School Entry High School Hallways The work in the areas listed above addressed three key factors for the school: Ongoing maintenance Accessibility Safety and security The benefits of the project were great – enhancing the user experience on a daily basis. Examples of how the three factors were addressed are as follows: ONGOING MAINTENANCE Issues such as hallway floor cracks were fixed and we changed the flooring material to prevent further cracking problems. In doing so, we had the opportunity to update the material […]

Long Term Facilities Maintenance Revenue

LONG-TERM FACILITIES MAINTENANCE REVENUE Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Revenue, (LTFM) program was established in the 2015 Education Act.  Intended for school districts, intermediate districts, other cooperatives, and charter schools. New legislation was passed during a special session in July 2015 that provides revenue increases for school districts not currently eligible to participate in the Alternative Facilities Bonding and Levy program. Legislation requires that districts develop a 10 Year Facilities Maintenance Plan adopted by its board.  The program funds deferred maintenance expenditures for projects which are attached to or part of a building and replaced on an equal exchange basis. PHASED  Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Revenue includes a three year phased approach beginning in FY 2017 FY 2017 Districts will receive up to $193/pupil FY 2018 Districts will receive up to $292/pupil FY 2019 Districts will receive up to $380/pupil Figures are prorated for districts with an average building age of 35 years or less. This program replaces the former Health and Safety and Deferred Maintenance revenue programs and associated funding. The LTFM Revenue is an equalized levy, which means the State of Minnesota will pay for a portion of the revenue depending on the district’s property value.  The equalizing factor is set at 123% of the State average Adjusted Net Tax capacities. KEY ELEMENTS Equalizing Factor high enough that a significant number of districts qualify for aid. Set as a % of state average ANTC/pupil. If property value increases statewide the equalizing factor will also increase. Agricultural Land in a district is not counted when calculating district’s value/pupil. ALLOWED USES Deferred Capital Expenditures and maintenance projects necessary to prevent further erosion of facilities. Increasing accessibility of school facilities. Health + Safety Projects under MN Statues (123B.57) NOT ALLOWED USES  Construction of New Facilities, Remodeling Existing Facilities or the Purchase of Portable Classrooms […]