You asked for a summary of the school construction grant process, requirements, and grant calculations. You also asked if there is any required minimum elapsed time between state school construction projects at the same school.

This report addresses the latter question. We attach an OLR Backgrounder Report (2008-R-0474) that describes the school construction grant process in detail.

SUMMARY

Except for two types of projects, state law generally imposes no limits on the frequency with which school districts may undertake state-funded school construction projects in the same school. The exceptions are renovations and roof replacement projects. The same school cannot be renovated again within 20 years after a previous state-funded renovation, nor can a district receive a grant for a roof replacement if the roof or part of the roof being replaced is less than 15 years old. If the roof is between 15 and 20 years old, the grant is reduced.

In addition, according to David Wedge, chief of the State Department of Education's (SDE) School Facilities Unit, the department requires justification for school projects and the education commissioner retains authority to refuse to recommend a particular project to the General Assembly if circumstances warrant. Depending on the type of project and the frequency, the commissioner could leave a project off the project priority list he submits for legislative approval each year if he determines it is not justified.

LAWS ESTABLISHING MINIMUM TIMES BETWEEN SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

School construction grants reimburse school districts for eligible project costs. For two types of projects, costs are not eligible for grant reimbursement if the projects occur too often in the same school.

Renovation Projects

The law defines a renovation project as one that totally refurbishes an existing building into a school with the same useful life as a new school but that costs less. Starting July 1, 2007, a school district cannot receive a renovation project grant if (1) the same school has been renovated with a state school construction grant within the 20 years before the new grant application date and (2) at least 75% of the building to be renovated is less than 30 years old (2008 Supplement to the General Statutes § 10-282(18))

Roof Replacement

The law allows the SDE to approve a state reimbursement grant for replacing a school roof or part of a roof only if the roof being replaced is at least 15 years old. A roof that is between 15 and 20 years old is eligible for a reduced grant only if (1) a registered architect or engineer determines that the roof is improperly designed or constructed and (2) the district is prohibited from recovering damages or has no recourse in law (CGS §10-286 (6)).

JL:dw