Your school needs a new roof. It’s been discussed for years, and the issues aren’t going away—water damage, high energy bills, and safety hazards continue to loom overhead. But like many districts, a familiar roadblock stands in the way: funding. A new opportunity from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), leveraging Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) dollars, may be the solution you’ve been waiting for.
This opportunity is beyond existing, annual LTFM dollars and could be an option for qualifying projects that cost $100K or more.
School buildings are among the most significant taxpayer-funded assets, and maintaining them requires a proactive, strategic approach from the top down.
New opportunities to repair or replace roofs on Minnesota public school buildings were created during the last legislative session. Districts may now be able to move forward with critical roofing projects—ensuring facilities remain dry, safe, and energy efficient—without voter approval. This flexibility is similar to past allowances that helped districts address asbestos abatement, indoor air quality, and parking lot improvements—projects often too large to be tackled with LTFM funds alone.
In conversations with districts, it’s common to hear that roofing needs exceed $100,000. Historically, LTFM budgets have been insufficient to keep repairs and replacements on preferred maintenance schedules. As a result, districts are often forced into a reactive approach—addressing only the “worst of the worst” areas of their roofing systems.
This new MDE opportunity is about more than fixing leaks—it’s about financial stewardship. By using LTFM revenue for large-scale roofing needs, schools can make essential infrastructure improvements without draining their general operating budgets—the funds that directly support classroom instruction and student programs.
There are specific guidelines that must be met to take advantage of this opportunity. To learn more, schedule a discovery meeting with our team. We’ll listen to your needs and walk you through the steps to help move your project forward.
