Update: Small School Repair Grant Program

This program now has a new name—the School Deficiency Repair Program. OSPI is requesting an allocation from the legislature of $3 million for the 2007-09 biennium.

Over the last five years, OSPI has administered two different grant programs for school district emergency and small repairs. The first program (know as the RenGrant Program) in 2002 was funded with federal dollars. At that time, 128 districts with almost 600 projects totaling more than $25 million applied for the program. There was only $10.4 million in one-time federal funding available for RenGrants. Many projects were not funded but it was clear that many of our districts need assistance with heath and safety repairs.

In the 2005-07 biennium, the state provided funding for initiating and developing the state supported Small Repair Program for schools. OSPI received 133 applications requesting more than $11.4 million in urgent repairs at school facilities. Twenty-six projects, clearly urgent and clearly needing state support were funded. The Legislature provided a total of $3 million for these projects and three other school repair projects that received direct appropriations.

OSPI is proposing a continuation of this critical program that will provide school districts across the state with a safety-net for use on urgent facility repairs that they cannot fund, that may crop-up after budgets are developed or that the school district alone cannot complete in a timely manner to protect student and staff safety. As part of this program, local maintenance programs and funding are required to be planned and in place for long-term, preventative and deferred school building maintenance.

The Rural Education Center strongly supports OSPI's request for this program to receive funding. Stay tuned for future updates!