The New York Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) has created a new 3-page blank form to be completed for all school district capital projects involving the construction of new special education space. The new form requires the signatures of the Superintendent of Schools, the District…

The Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) system has created a procedure for guiding the architectural design and construction of elementary school buildings that document staff representatives can use when reviewing drawings and specifications for the facility. The document is divided into three sections: the first lists the type of spaces and…

Holds that "improvement" is an important theme for understanding the early history of public schooling in Buffalo. Describes Oliver Steele's strategy for linking public schooling with the concept of "public improvement" and argues that an unfortunate part of Steele's legacy was the idea that a suitable building guaranteed a…

This paper discusses five key issues in the design phase of a construction project that can improve the quality, cost, or time of construction. These five ways are: education specifications, design standards, prototype designs, value engineering, and selecting a qualified architect. To facilitate discussion, the background section of this paper…

This report examines the Chicago Public School System's need for capital improvement, and it highlights action plans for the future. The report reveals that many planned school improvements projects are unfunded and that there is about $229 million worth of projects that no longer appear in the city's capital improvements plan. Overcrowding…

This thesis examines what practices schools and school districts need to adopt if they want to apply sustainable design principles to their new schools and the benefits these design practices offer school communities. The paper argues that school districts will benefit from these design principles, and that these benefits will occur because…

This publication discusses those factors that must be recognized during the process of school site selection, planning, development, and use within North Carolina. Issues discussed in the site selection process include the technical requirements when selecting a school site, such as topography and drainage, access and traffic, security and safety,…

This paper addresses the growing population trends in California; the need to counteract the current model of community sprawl by designing smarter schools and community growth strategies; and the changes in planning, policies, and practices needed to achieve these goals. Recommended strategies described support the following actions: more…

This booklet provides a general overview of classroom acoustic problems and their solutions for both new school construction and renovation. Practical explanations and examples are discussed on topics including reverberation, useful and undesirable reflections, mechanical equipment noise, interior noise sources, and sound reinforcement. Examples…

This paper describes some of the author's experiences in financing and building a new $4 million Catholic elementary school facility and activities center in rural North Platte (Nebraska). Important points that lead to successful school building projects are highlighted and include establishing good relationships with all the stakeholders…

The Georgia Department of Education provides data on the status of its public schools in the following categories: student population trends from 1980 to 2002; estimated annual costs for new schools based on the current rate of student population; funding for Georgia's capital outlay program from fiscal years 1981 through 1998; regular entitlement…

The New York State Department of Education provides the amendments to regulations of the Commissioner of Education concerning the Comprehensive Public School Building Safety Program effective May 7, 1999. Amended items include those involving the school district 5-year capital assets preservation facilities plan, building inspections, construction…

Declining physical conditions of school buildings, overcrowding, and lack of electrical systems to support new technology are rampant in schools throughout the United States, particularly in schools that can least afford to correct these problems. This document addresses the question of why school condition needs to be addressed, the major causes…

This publication is intended to help California school officials and planners create school buildings that provide environments needed for the operation of an outstanding program of public education. It encourages them to visit the schools presented and similar ones in order to become informed about new planning concepts and trends in school…

This document provides summaries of each state's activities to address their the shortage of school buildings by supporting school construction. It reveals that 11 state subsidize, reimburse, or match local funding for construction projects; 10 states have an established formula for determining the amount of stat funding each school district…