School business officials from 10 large urban school districts express their concerns about school size, deteriorating buildings, lack of parental involvement and parenting skills, obsolete business systems, loss of public support, retrofitting for technology, privatization, and low-bid construction results. Violent behavior and criminal incidents…

A law enacted last year created a new National Science Foundation program to modernize research facilities, but the program is expected to receive little or no money. The lack of funds has intensified debate over colleges' efforts to win direct appropriations from Congress for their campuses. (MLW)

Questions and answers to help school business officials weed through the promotional material in order to determine the roofing system right for their buildings. (MLF)

Summarizes study comparing superintendents' and principals' expectations concerning principals' involvement in making budget decisions at school site. Respondents differed significantly regarding degree of principal involvement in salary decisions about noncertificated staff, purchase of texts and library books, and decisions affecting building…

A Michigan high school abandoned its coercive school management practices for a system actively involving students in decision making. To help students feel they could make a difference, the Reaching Success through Involvement format was used to identify six workable student-involvement areas: extracurricular activities, school governance,…

A North Carolina school district has faced severe budget constraints; however, the school food service, transportation, and facilities departments have effectively cut costs and improved efficiency. Includes a list of 40 ways to save school dollars, updated from a 1978 publication of this journal. (MLF)

Discusses the financial and operational difficulties inherent in community college facilities management. It explains why the primary source of plant operation cost and waste starts with satisfying the scheduling and changing educational needs of its students. Problems in planning and executing major maintenance activities are also addressed. (GR)

Professional personnel and building maintenance were studied by the Halifax School District Board (Nova Scotia) to examine economy and efficiency and to determine quality education, using the value-for-money concept. This process can be utilized by any board to assist in identifying areas needing analysis, but program effectiveness should also be…

Brigham Young University's program integrating ongoing campus capital replacement and renewal into overall physical plant administration is described, including the initial capital needs study, planning for replacement cycles and one-time expenditures, and management of the information gathered. (MSE)

Reaffirms necessary elements for the successful operation of college purchasing and maintenance programs (e.g., purchasing calendar, bidding procedures, vendor selection, contracting services, budgeting for maintenance, and workforce analysis). Discusses ways some colleges are saving on operating costs (e.g., solar energy, energy management,…

Comparisons are drawn between budgeted maintenance and operations costs for 1983-84 and the preceding 2 years' actual costs. Also provided is a summary of a 10-year comparison of net current expenditures per student, compared with maintenance and operations costs per student. Data are presented for 10 geographical regions. (MLF)

Comparisons are shown between budgeted maintenance and operations costs for 1982-83 and the preceding two years' actual costs. Also provided is a summary of a 10-year comparison of net current expenditures per student, compared with maintenance and operations costs per student. Data are presented for 10 geographical regions. (MLF)

Australian methods and formulas for funding building maintenance and management are outlined and found to be haphazard. Discussed are: ultimate costs of deferred maintenance, major plant replacements, life cycle costing, types of maintenance programs (including full preventive maintenance), use of computer programs for planning, and organization…

Preparing and negotiating the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-21 short form is discussed along with Section H in both general and specific areas, including supporting documentation, adjustments and reclassifications. This discussion is designed to assist all institutions to better prepare, document, and negotiate indirect costs…

Comparisons are shown between budgeted maintenance and operations costs for 1981-82 and the preceding two years' actual costs. Also provided is a summary of the past 11 years' costs. The largest cost increase is in heating fuel. Data are presented for 10 geographical regions and seven school size categories. (MLF)