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

Federal Webinar The Trump Budget and Schools: Subscriber Exclusive Quick Hit
EdWeek subscribers, join this 30-minute webinar to find out what the latest federal policy changes mean for K-12 education.
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
Curriculum Webinar
End Student Boredom: K-12 Publisher's Guide to 70% Engagement Boost
Calling all K-12 Publishers! Student engagement flatlining? Learn how to boost it by up to 70%.
Content provided by KITABOO
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
School & District Management
Moving the Needle on Attendance: What’s Working NOW
See how family engagement is improving attendance, and how to put it to work in schools.
Content provided by TalkingPoints

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 21, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz What Is the Average Teacher Salary for the 2024-25 School Year? Take This Weekly Quiz
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Education Quiz Are You Keeping Up With Trump’s Big Changes to K-12 Funding? Take This Weekly Quiz
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Education Quiz How Is Trump Changing School Discipline Rules? Take This Week’s Quiz
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read