Waseca School Board backs updated plan to help district keep up with building maintenance

As required by the state, the Waseca School Board has approved its annual Long Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) plan, laying out a broad 10-year plan and commitment to keep up with maintenance needs at the district’s aging facilities.

The plan provides a budget for how it will spend its anticipated LTFM revenue from the state, which is expected to cover basic maintenance and upgrades, such as fixes and replacements of components of the plumbing, electrical and other systems that have outlived their useful life.

At a work session held earlier this month, Business Services Director Matthew Moline said that the form, which follows a template required by the state, provides a broad overview over the coming decade, but it's based on much more detailed plans for each building.

While the cost of each replacement or fix may not be individually that large, Moline emphasized that the costs add up given the large number of aging components sprinkled throughout the Elementary, Intermediate and High Schools.

Questioned by Board Member Grant Scheffert, Moline said that while in the short term, the large majority of projected LTFM expenditures over the next several years are carefully budgeted for, around 15 to 20% is left to cover unanticipated needs.

“I’d say about 80 to 85% of it are things that are going to happen,” Moline said. “Of course, you still have things that are still going to crop up, so you want to leave a little bit of cushion.”

While the state requires an LTFM plan to cover a full 10 years, Moline and Superintendent Eric Hudspith emphasized that, after the coming three or four years, the specificity of plans behind the projections drops dramatically.

Under current projections, maintenance expenses could start to outstrip the available revenue in 2029. Hudspith said that state officials aren’t likely to sweat projections so far out, though they may to hear how the district plans to address such a deficit if it remains as the time gets closer.

As Moline noted, projections suggest that 2025 could actually see the LTFM fund balance increase significantly, suggesting that may be a stronger indicator of prudent financial management that will help WPS to save for a “rainy day” or increased maintenance needs.

For Hudspith, who recently was evaluated based on his performance during the 2023-24 school year, ensuring the District keeps up with maintenance needs is a priority, if not one of the core priorities for the coming year as thus far identified by the Superintendent Evaluation Committee.

Among the goals floated by the committee include accountability for plan implementation, particularly with regards to the strategic plan, supporting initiatives to boost academic achievement, especially around literacy, and partnering closely with building leaders.

Hudspith said that based on not only feedback from the Superintendent Evaluation Committee but conversations with the public, boosting communication and engagement with the public will continue to be a top priority, as in years past.

“It’s always something we continue to get better at,” said Hudspith of the district’s commitment to community engagement.