Examines the maintenance management problems inherent in cleaning multiple flooring materials revealing the need for school officials to keep it simple when choosing flooring types. Also highlighted is a carpet recycling program used by Wright State University (Ohio). (GR)

Discusses school preventive maintenance and the variables associated with maintenance staffing standards that address a zero-based budgeting environment. Explores preventive-maintenance measurement for staffing requirements, defines staffing levels and job descriptions, and outlines the factors to consider when creating a maintenance program and…

Discusses the importance of staff training and a maintenance program to the care of hard floors. Describes four key features to look for in a computer-based training program and types of floor pads and matting used to keep flooring clean. (EV)

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)

Argues that carpets do not contribute to student complaints of respiratory problems, allergies, and asthma as long as they are properly cleaned with high-efficiency microfiltration bags. Discusses contributions to mite problems made by smooth floor covering compared to carpeting. (GR)

Explains how well-defined cleaning and maintenance standards helped a community school system resolve problems with custodial staff apportionments. Cleaning time, frequency, and cleanliness levels are combined to create a formula that helps economize custodial care. (GR)

A light-hearted look at some of the characteristics of elementary schools that are absent from most organizational descriptions, including malfunctioning heating and cooling systems, archaic audiovisual equipment, and an inordinate number of uninvited cats and dogs. (JM)

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)

Effective measures to decrease vandalism on the Oswego campus include replacement of damaged items with more resilient materials, the maintenance of communication between campus police and residence hall personnel, and a variety of measures to encourage community ownership and pride. (MLF)

Facts about the specifications for carpets used in different areas in schools. (MLF)

Reviews the snow clearance procedure at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. (MLF)

Of all things that can damage a roof, people are the worst. Ways are suggested to control access to roofs and monitor inspections and maintenance work. (Author/MLF)

Discusses how to build a successful cleaning process in order to most effectively maintain school facilities, explaining that the cleaning processes used plays a critical role in productivity. Focuses on: developing a standardized system; making sure that employees have the right tools for the work they perform; training employees; tracking and…

Discusses factors leading to the current problem of poorly maintained schools, such as budget and labor cuts and misdirected purchasing policies. Provides an overview of some solutions, such as innovations in cleaning supplies and equipment, and having an integrated system to clean the school district. (EV)

Discusses how an emphasis on student recruitment, combined with deferred maintenance backlogs and maintenance budget cuts, suggest that further study needs to be done on the intrinsic value of campus maintenance. (EV)