WHEREAS, The Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program (the “Program”) was created to provide grants to public school districts and area career and technical schools for eligible facility improvement projects. 

WHEREAS, the Program was established under Section 1753.2-E of Subarticle E of Act 34 of 2023 (P.L. 251, No. 34) (72 P.S. §1753.2-E). The Program is administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development (“DCED”) under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority (“CFA”).

WHEREAS, on April 25, 2024 The School District of Philadelphia (“School District”) previously requested and received authorization from the Board of Education to apply for six State Facilities Improvement Grants (“FFI Grants”) through the Program totalling up to $20,000,000. 

WHEREAS, on that date, The Board of Education approved Hopkinson School, McMichael School, Blankenburg School, and Overbrook High School for improvement projects based on recommendations from the Office of Capital Programs after critical review of work order submissions, Environmental and FCA/FCI data.

WHEREAS, in addition to the above schools the Office of Capital Programs now seeks Board authorization to include any additional schools or buildings that are later identified by the Office of Capital Programs for qualifying upgrades, renovations and repairs. 

WHEREAS, funds from the FFI Grants will provide the District with funds to perform upgrades, renovations and repairs to the exteriors and interiors of the schools to give the teachers and students a better teaching and learning environment. The scope of the qualifying projects will include, but will not be limited to, the following:  Roof replacement, Full mechanical system replacement( HVAC and Boilers) and Structural repairs.

WHEREAS, a grant request cannot exceed 75% of the total eligible project costs. Projects require a cash match of 25% of total eligible project costs. Matching funds are defined as those funds, in addition to the requested grant funds, necessary to complete the proposed project and must be secured at the time of application submission.

WHEREAS, the Program requires applicants to submit as part of the application, a resolution duly adopted by the applicant’s governing board formally requesting the FFI Grants, designating an official to execute all documents, describing briefly the improvement project scopes, and identifying the grant amount.

RESOLVED, the Board of Education authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, to apply for Federal Facilities Improvement Grants of up to $20,000,000 to be used for the above described improvement projects and any other qualifying projects later identified by the Office of Capital Programs and execute all necessary documents between the District and the Commonwealth Financing Authority to facilitate and assist in obtaining the requested grants.