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Franklin Area School District to phase facility upgrades as costs and mental-health needs squeeze budget
Summary
Dr. Gino Thomas, superintendent of the Franklin Area School District, said the district—now debt-free—will phase facility renovations over multiple years because transportation, insurance and staffing costs are rising faster than revenues; he also said growing student mental-health needs are diverting resources from classrooms.
Dr. Gino Thomas, superintendent of the Franklin Area School District, said the district will phase necessary facility renovations over several years because rising operational costs have outpaced available revenue.
"We have just become debt-free in our district and haven't had renovations of our facilities in about 20 to 25 years," Thomas said, adding that the district will not be able to do everything at once and must prioritize work "in multiphases over multiple years." He said the district will engage consultants and work with its board and the community on a multi‑year plan.
Thomas told the interviewer that a wide set of cost pressures is complicating planning. "Transportation costs in the past three years ... the costs of buses have doubled," he said, and "health insurances we're looking at a 15 to 20% increase every single year." He also cited higher staffing costs and growing cyber and facility maintenance needs as strains on the budget. Thomas said student supplies costs are up roughly "four to five percent." He did not provide baseline dollar amounts for those changes or the dates of previous contracts.
Thomas said those operational pressures are compounded by what he described as a rise in student mental-health needs. "Five years ago we didn't have the mental health issues that we're dealing with in schools," he said. "It's a pandemic today," he added, saying schools now must allocate staff time and funds to supports so students arrive ready to learn.
The superintendent framed the situation as a systems challenge: as mental-health work and other nonclassroom needs expand, the district has less discretionary funding for classroom programs and capital work. Thomas said the district will pursue strategic planning with outside consultants, the board and the community to phase upgrades while maintaining learning environments.
The interview did not include formal proposals, bond measures or specific project timetables. Thomas emphasized planning and community engagement as next steps, and the interviewer directed listeners to pba.org for more information on the state of education report.
