Older ND schools impede comfortable learning
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A new school year can sometimes start with hotter weather, putting pressure on aging buildings with failing cooling systems, and there are conversations in North Dakota to better equip districts with resources for mechanical upgrades.
A 2024 legislative report included survey data from 111 school districts across the state regarding the shape of their buildings. Aging facilities and deferred maintenance were cited as the top challenge.
Ashley Gaschk, president of the North Dakota AFL-CIO, is a former teacher who said not having a fully functioning air conditioning system on a steamy September day can distract students still getting settled.
“They’re supposed to be learning about active and passive voice and chemical reactions, but a lot of times they’re distracted by all their peers, and ‘Who’s in my class?’ and ‘Do I like this teacher?'” Gaschk observed. “It’s really hard to do that when you’re just miserably hot and tired.”
Gaschk added the stress is felt by teachers, too.
Last year, the Legislature directed state education officials to conduct a condition assessment of all public schools in North Dakota. The goal was to develop cost-effective design templates for future construction. But Gaschk pointed out a new 3% cap on local property tax hikes, part of a recent reform package, complicates revenue efforts for districts.
A 60% approval threshold for local bond proposals, covering school needs, is cited by districts as another hurdle, with a number of them coming up just short in the June primary. Gaschk acknowledged larger districts seeing student population growth still might have an easier time garnering support from residents to back school upgrades but added it is almost impossible for smaller ones.
“Their tax base is decreasing but they’re also facing challenges of these buildings whose maintenance costs, a lot of times, have been kind of kicked down the road,” Gaschk explained.
The 2024 report cited research showing poor learning environments can hinder student outcomes and adversely affect teacher performance and well-being. Beyond recommending a statewide assessment of buildings, it called on the Legislature to create a fund for these needs. Ahead of next year’s session, lawmakers are expected to consider budget cuts due to revenue shortfalls.