When school populations grow to the point where districts must consider new construction, many district administrators face a fork in the road: renovate or opt for new construction? The importance of this decision should not be taken lightly; it can have serious ramifications for years to come. Each situation is unique. Just as no two students are…

School districts held an exclusive franchise on public education services until 1991, when Minnesota passed the first law permitting public charter schools. Charter schools are publicly funded, authorized by various agencies designated in public law, but independently managed. They operate outside district control, and most can draw students from…

Step into a classroom in the 21st century, and the odds are it won't look all that different from one in the 20th century. One decade into the 2000s, many schools and universities have been frustrated in their efforts to upgrade their facilities and resources because of shrinking budgets. But even with the ailing economy, some education…

When River Crest Elementary School opened on September 2, 2008, it was clear that the effect of a "green" school would extend beyond the students who walked through the doors for class each day. The 93,450-square-foot facility in Hudson, Wisconsin, serves as a catalyst for sustainable change and has been an educational tool for…

The nation's major city public school districts have substantial construction, renovation, modernization, and deferred maintenance needs because of the age and size of their school buildings, shifting populations, and the need to devote substantial resources to instructional personnel to meet their core academic mission. For instance, the average…

A COMPARISON OF FIRE INSURANCE COSTS OF WOOD, MASONRY, STEEL AND CONCRETE STRUCTURES SHOWS FIRE INSURANCE PREMIMUMS ON WOOD STRUCTURES TEND TO BE HIGHER THAN PREMIUMS ON MASONRY, STEEL AND CONCRETE BUILDINGS, HOWEVER, THE INITIAL COST OF THE WOOD BUILDINGS IS LOWER. DATA SHOW THAT THE SAVINGS ACHIEVED IN THE INITIAL COST OF WOOD STRUCTURES OFFSET…

EMPLOYMENT OF AN ARCHITECT WHO WILL DRAW UP PLANS AND SUBMIT PRELIMINARY SKETCHES IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE BIDDING PROCEDURE. THE ARCHITECT USUALLY WORKS WITH A CONSULTING ENGINEER. AFTER APPROVAL OF PRELIMINARY PLANS, THE ENGINEER WILL ESTABLISH SPECIFICATIONS FOR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AND DRAW PLANS ACCORDINGLY WHEN THIS PHASE IS COMPLETED THE…

BUILDING PROGRAMS ARE GROUPED IN THREE MAJOR PHASES. PHASE ONE IS PLANNING FOR A SCHOOL BUILDING. INVOLVEMENT AND/OR IDENTIFICATION OF CONCERNED PARTY(S) FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS, SCHOOL BOARD, ADMINISTRATION, STAFF, STUDENTS, CONSULTANTS, STATE AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, LEGAL COUNSEL, ARCHITECT, CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERS IS STRESSED. NEED FOR…

This eighth edition of "Wisconsin School Buildings" contains basic data and floor plans for each new construction project reported as being completed during 1991-93. It includes 146 projects, 46 of which were new free-standing buildings. A survey of Wisconsin school districts provides evidence of a continuing need in planning for…

Describes one Wisconsin school district's use of continuous quality improvement (CQI), coupled with community involvement, to plan and pass a referendum for a new K-8 school. Fourteen CQI principles used to successfully develop and drive a community-wide effort in school planning are highlighted and discussed. (GR)