Some school districts have found that maintenance and custodial services can be contracted out with cost-saving results. Contains specific questions to ask potential contractors in order to evaluate contracting for maintenance and custodial services. (MLF)

Numerous studies have reported the deteriorating conditions in school buildings. One of the primary causes of this national problem is lack of proper maintenance of school facilities. Outlines a comprehensive assessment and planning process to provide a district with a road map for making decisions about facility improvement. (MLF)

The operation and maintenance (O&M) of public school buildings and equipment has become more complex over the years, requiring increased training of personnel, more responsible management, and greater expenditure of school resources. This monograph provides basic guidelines for establishing a program to respond to these administrative…

Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) programs are used to teach drafting at an Indiana high school. The school system's maintenance department shared use of the software and equipment to produce original drawings of school buildings. (MLF)

Organized data describing school facilities are necessary for planning. Eleven categories that organize facility data by components are listed and discussed individually. (MLF)

This is the fifth revision of the Minimum Check List since its origin in 1960 by North Carolina's School Planning. The checklist was developed to serve as a means of communication between school agencies and design professionals and has been widely used in the development and review of mechanical and electrical plans and specifications by…

An effective energy conservation program, it is suggested, will require institutional changes and capital costs. The energy problem is seen as not simply a technical problem but a management one requiring the attention of the entire campus community. Some energy saving tips are provided, including quick fix items and investments. (MLW)

Ways that a school facility administrator can help to rebuild public confidence in the school system. (Author/MLF)

An informal survey of 20 major urban school districts found that 40% were currently operating in a "break down" maintenance mode. A majority, 57.9%, also indicated they saw considerable benefits in contracting for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) maintenance services with outside firms. Offers guidelines in selecting…

Describes how to select the right computerized maintenance-management system for school buildings through careful analysis of building needs and budgetary constraints. Discusses deciding on the use of implementation services following a maintenance system evaluation and selection process. Lists various companies involved in maintenance, energy,…

Presents data from the American School & University's annual Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Cost Study for the 1997-98 school year. Data include trends in building-operations-staff salaries and M&O costs expressed in dollars per student and per square foot. Results indicate an underfunding of M&O that may not provide students…

Discusses the myriad of challenges facing urban schools and the problems their districts must struggle through in finding solutions. The severity of these problems, such as additional facility demand, school deterioration, increasing rates of school takeovers, and tight budgets are described. (GR)

Addresses outsourcing of school facilities services and the steps facilities services staff can take to help preserve their jobs. Steps include increasing organizational communication of staff efforts; investigating computer software to better manage service delivery; training and motivating staff in new ideas and practices; and establishing goals…

Discusses the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers' (APPA) objective of developing a network system wherein K-12 community members can access facilities-related information and communicate with APPA members or other school districts. Specific considerations are highlighted that need to be addressed before a successful and effective…

The landscape of public education in Michigan has changed dramatically over the last 13 years. Most districts receive a majority of their operating money from state government, not local taxes. Charter schools and nearby districts lure students away from local schools and capture the state money that goes with them. Districts are even subject to…