In 1935, as part of a relief project funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA 65-66-7752), the State of Texas undertook a statistical and research study of the Texas Public School situation with particular attention to be paid to the efficiency of the existing organization of administrative units, adequacy of public school plants, and the…

The ailing economy has spared few schools and universities. Faced with funding cutbacks, most education administrators have had to make difficult choices about where to allocate dwindling resources. Even in the best of financial times, educating students is the first priority. When money is tight, school maintenance and operations (M&O)…

At thousands of schools and universities, years of economic troubles have led to repeated budget cuts. The reductions typically fall disproportionately on maintenance departments, where cuts are viewed as less critical than those that directly affect classroom instruction. And so nearly every facility manager at an education institution faces a…

Details the process of reengineering Miami-Dade Community College's maintenance department to lower costs while increasing services. Changes included work flow, communications, purchasing, staffing, and technology methods. (EV)

Investment in efficient, high-speed machines is a step toward greater productivity in school maintenance. (Author/MLF)

Discusses how handheld pen computing devices and specialized software systems can make educational facility assessment more efficient. Explores how these tools can be used for information management and for developing short and long term maintenance and capital improvement plans. (GR)

The work order, when used properly, provides a lasting record of the work actually accomplished and can be a valuable management tool to determine future budgets, predict equipment failure rate, and provide other important information used in decision making. (Author/MLF)

Offers strategies to make schools' cleaning operations run more smoothly. Discusses how to estimate the amount of space that needs cleaning and how long it should take, the benefits of team cleaning versus zone cleaning, and the importance of monitoring complaints and overtime to ensure staff is performing efficiently. (EV)

Formulas for clearer finishes with improved wearing qualities will help schools and universities curb the high cost of maintenance. (Author)

The long-term implications of overeconomizing in physical resources, involving deferred or low maintenance and reduced services, are more serious than is commonly realized. Administrators need greater freedom to manage physical resources, improved liaison with academic planners, and more careful preparation of cases presented to funding…

School districts can reduce payrolls and be more efficient by installing work simplification programs. (Author/MLF)

Advice to smaller schools about how to write a program on planned maintenance, develop a planned maintenance book format, use the book, and implement the program. (Author/MLF)

The basic profit assumption that requires accountability for manpower can be applied to a school or university maintenance program. (Author/MLF)

Explains how a team cleaning approach can be cost-effective and efficient means of school maintenance. Assigning staffing responsibilities and work schedules are addressed and the advantages of using a team system are explained. (GR)

Presents cleaning profiles for educational facilities that help clarify and quantify the cleaning process, thus aiding labor allocation and addressing contract specifications as well as verifying standards through quality assurance. Strategies cover various cleaning levels from overall spotlessness to constantly utilized areas only affording…