Aligning capital projects with mission, data, and community priorities
As a school district leader, you’re constantly balancing the urgency of today’s needs with the long-term vision for your students, staff, and community. Every facility decision you make—every roof replaced, classroom added, or building renovated—is an opportunity to advance your mission. When you align your capital investments with strategic goals, you’re not just fixing buildings. You’re creating learning environments that empower achievement, support equity, and reflect the values of your community. To make the most of your capital investments, consider these five strategies that will help you align facilities planning with your district’s mission and long-term priorities.
1. Aligning capital projects with strategic goals
Capital projects should be more than reactive fixes; they should be intentional choices that help your district fulfill its mission. Consider the following:
Your buildings should serve your educational vision—not the other way around.
2. Prioritizing projects through data-driven assessments
With limited resources, tough decisions are inevitable. Data gives you the clarity to make those decisions confidently. Start by using tools like:
By using data, you can justify your priorities to your board, your community, and your funding partners.
3. Funding strategies and financial planning
Even the strongest vision needs funding to become reality. That means crafting a financial strategy that matches your goals, timelines, and community appetite. Options may include:
Tip: Align your funding plan with your capital improvement plan to reduce gaps, anticipate escalation, and preserve flexibility for the unexpected. Many district leaders find success by layering multiple funding streams and building contingency reserves into their capital strategy.
4. Community engagement and transparency
You can’t build trust without communication. Community support is critical—especially when you’re asking for funding or making visible changes to schools. What works:
When your community feels heard, they’re far more likely to support your vision—and your bond measures.
5. Sustainability and resilience
Today’s capital investments need to stand the test of time—and climate. That means designing buildings that are energy-efficient, healthy, and resilient. To get there:
These aren’t just environmental decisions—they’re strategic ones that lower long-term costs and safeguard student well-being.
Make every dollar count
As an educator AND a leader, you’re entrusted with stewarding your district’s resources, reputation, and future. Capital improvements are one of the most powerful tools to shape that future. By aligning your projects with your mission, using data to drive decisions, engaging your community, and planning for resilience, you can turn facilities into a force for transformation—not just maintenance.
At Brailsford & Dunlavey, we’ve partnered with school districts across the country to navigate exactly these challenges. Whether you’re launching a districtwide master plan, preparing for a bond campaign, or figuring out how to prioritize limited capital, our team is here to help you move from uncertainty to action.
Your schools—and your students—deserve facilities that reflect the excellence you’re striving to deliver. Let’s build that future together!
Jeff Bonvechio, Regional Vice President at Brailsford & Dunlavey since 2018, brings 20 years of experience in planning, designing, and constructing public education, recreation, and library facilities. As Director of Capital Projects for major DC Government agencies, he managed budgets up to $500 million and oversaw the development or renovation of 17 LEED Gold-certified neighborhood libraries. Jeff holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Ohio University and is affiliated with the Urban Land Institute’s Leadership Institute, the Construction Owners Association of America, the American Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Jeff can be reached at JBonvechio@bdconnect.com.
