Education

Facilities

February 05, 2003 | Corrected: February 23, 2019 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Corrected: This story incorrectly identified the sources of funding for the “Planning Guide for Maintaining School Facilities.” The National Center for Education Statistics paid for the guide, which was a collaborative project with the Association of School Business Officials International.

Building Code

It’s a scenario that could take place in any district: A facilities planner wants to pay to have a new school “commissioned,” but the district’s accountant believes the additional cost—about 1 percent of the total expense of the project—could be better spent on other needs. Who’s right?

According to a soon-to-be-released school guidebook, “commissioning"—which means having a third party verify that all components of a new or remodeled school are in place, will meet the district’s needs, and operate as designed— is a practice nearly all districts could benefit from when undertaking major construction projects.

In one case documented in the guidebook a local contractor hired as such a commissioner found that $3,000 of equipment already bought and paid for had never been installed, and that the school’s heating and cooling system was not operating as efficiently as it should.

One free copy per person of the “Planning Guide for Maintaining School Facilities” can be ordered from the Department of Education, or by calling (877) 4-EDPUBS. Multiple copies can be ordered for a fee from the U.S. Government Printing Online Bookstore, or by phone at (888) 293-6498.

Commissioning is just one of the topics addressed in the new “Planning Guide for Maintaining School Facilities.”

The National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities will release the guide in a joint project with the Association of School Business Officials International, known as ASBO. The facilities clearinghouse, which is financed by the U.S. Department of Education, is based in Washington.

Even though school district officials know that high-quality construction and preventive maintenance are key to the longevity of school buildings, they don’t always know what needs to be done, and when. With that in mind, the authors of the new guide designed the publication to help districts plan for facilities maintenance and routine repairs—actions that the facilities clearinghouse and ASBO stress could save a lot of money down the road.

Among other topics, the guide discusses creating long-term facilities plans, auditing facilities, and managing data, safety issues, and maintenance. It also includes a list of Web resources and checklists.

The guide is scheduled to be available free online early this month at the clearinghouse’s Web site, www.edfacilities.org. Later in February, printed copies will be sent to every ASBO member, ASBO state chapters, state departments of education, and groups of school facilities planners that review publications.

—Joetta L. Sack

Events

Student Well-Being Webinar After-School Learning Top Priority: Academics or Fun?
Join our expert panel to discuss how after-school programs and schools can work together to help students recover from pandemic-related learning loss.
Budget & Finance Webinar Leverage New Funding Sources with Data-Informed Practices
Address the whole child using data-informed practices, gain valuable insights, and learn strategies that can benefit your district.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
ChatGPT & Education: 8 Ways AI Improves Student Outcomes
Revolutionize student success! Don't miss our expert-led webinar demonstrating practical ways AI tools will elevate learning experiences.
Content provided by Inzata

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: May 17, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: May 3, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: April 26, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: March 29, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read