Not positive where you are, but at least in New York State, the process for entering an item on a capital improvement project is a multi-step process. Getting an item like this outside of capitol improvement is extremely unlikely, due to the cost. Items for capitol improvement are put on a list in the following order:
1. Audit by architects. This is mandatory every few years. Architects tour the buildings and
point out things they think need to be done in the next period of time (3 years?). You will likely never know when the audit is completed, and they only list building-crucial items (such as masonry, roofs,
etc.) out-of-date items,
safety issues, and items to improve the educational setting. In my experience, their idea of a
safety issue on
stage is limited to the knowledge of that particular architect, and generally ignored unless something is actually visually phisically falling apart, and poses an immediate danger. An item is out-of-date if the school has actually outgrown the capabilities of an installed
system. (Computer
network from the 1990's for example)
2. Needs as requested by administration. This is where anything can make the list, but has to be deemed worthy by one person, who generally has his/her own agenda. If an item on this list is noted as a
safety concern, that does not make the architect't audit, it will be highly questioned for validity.
3. All of the items are prioritized by essentials and non-essentials. This process involves the whole distinct, and a lot of politics.
Once the list is completed, an estimate is applied, and the Board of Education decides what funding
level they wish to grant. They scrutinize the list, and basically arrive at a cut-off
point on the list based on funding. Capital project is planned and completed, which usually takes 2 to 3 years, in addition to the years it took to develop the list in the first place. Items that are not completed on a particular project are rolled over to the next list, but have to be re-prioritized.
It would be far easier to repair the
current issue, however if you do that, you could end up removing the justification for replacement if your
system is already somewhere in this process. Full replacement of the
system would take longer than you will be in high school, unless there is a catastrophic event causing
safety concerns, or the process has already been initiated, and the
system will be replaced soon.
In short, as a high school student, I would recommend speaking to the adults in charge, and get more information. There is probably a reason they are spending a lot each year, rather than looking for the repair.