Looks at equipment, process, and training aspects of backpack vacuum cleaners that facilitate good ergonomics and high productivity levels, focusing on: designing new equipment for bodies and productivity; creating comfortable backpack harnesses; improving the work process via team training; and providing ergonomic training to ensure that backpack…

Physical facilities represent a substantial investment for institutions of higher education, and the costs for maintenance and operation represent a sizable part of the annual operating budget. Higher education is moving toward a comprehensive form of facilities management to assure that this investment is adequately preserved and effectively…

Recent technological advances in roofing materials and systems provide new options for meeting school reroofing needs. Describes materials, installation methods, and the benefits of engaging a roofing consultant. (MLF)

The higher original cost of standing seam metal roofs is offset by excellent long-term performance. Two reroofing projects offer a comparison of relative operating and maintenance costs. (MLF)

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)

Provides data on school maintenance and operations (M & O) costs in the United States. Costs are expressed in dollars per student and per square foot. Data show school districts are spending more to maintain and operate their buildings, but M & O budgets are not rising by the same rate. (GR)

Presents 1997 maintenance and operations (M&O) cost summaries from a sampling of chief business officers at public school districts across the United States. Nationally, results show 9.59% of a school district's net current expenditure was appropriated for M&O in the 1996-1997 school year, up slightly from fiscal year 1995-1996. Costs are shown to…

Discusses the top challenges commonly confronted nationwide by college and universities, and similar facilities and businesses. Challenges include construction and repair, funding, housing, auxiliary services, maintenance and operations, marketing and recruiting, security and safety, staff training and retention, and technology. (GR)

Explains why some community colleges are offering on-campus housing, and illustrates some of the challenges and issues they faced. New challenges addressed include student health and productivity, housing funding, and maintenance. (GR)

This report focuses on principals' satifaction with services provided by the School District of Philadelphia's Facilities Management and Services. In the spring of 1988 questionnaires were sent to all principals in the system and a total of 172 returns (61 percent) were received. Tabulated in frequencies, the results demonstrated that the majority…

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…

Public Laws 81-815 and 81-874 were enacted in 1950 to assist school districts financially burdened as a result of certain federal activities. Under Public Law 81-874, payments for maintenance and operation of local schools are authorized when local revenues are reduced by the federal acquisition of real property, when the district provides…

A computerized system for maintenance management is described in terms of components--inventory control, scheduling of custodial work, preventive maintenance, new work and review and analysis. A flow chart for the system is presented showing the interrelation of the components and the details of each component, for example, 'New Work' includes…

School maintenance guidelines are directed to the local school situation where the custodian may have neither the opportunity for any formal training or experienced personnel available to instruct him. Topics covered are those that are thought to be of greatest value to the local school custodian and include--(1) floor care, (2) carpet cleaning,…