Filardo, M., Bar, M., Cheng, S., Ulsoy, J., & Allen, M. (2010).
21st Century School Fund have conducted a study to examine how much capital outlay has been expended by states from 2005-2008 as reported to the U.S. Census of Governments and surveyed every state on what share of these funds were provided from state sources as compared to local sources.
National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (2010).
This report provides Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) with a summary of current knowledge about mould remediation. The information is based on Mould Remediation in Indoor Environments – Review of Guidelines & Evidence, a more comprehensive review of available evidence from current research papers and mould assessment guidelines commissioned by the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH).
http://www.ncceh.ca/sites/default/files/Short_Report_Mould_Assessment_Oct_2010.pdf
Weeks (2010). 76 (6)
Because school business officials are pushed to make difficult decisions quickly when it comes to risk management, they should be aware of the issues associated with environmental safety. School business officials are integral members of the teams that handle crises--big and small--in the school district. A crisis may be as straightforward as the possibility of leeched arsenic all over the playground or polychlorinated biphenyls in the water from the playground's drinking fountain in the Liberty School District or it could be as complex as the sprawling disaster of Hurricane Katrina. This article presents the different teams that school business officials can expect to work with and be a part of when addressing environmental risks. By working with the entire district team, being up to date on legislation, and being proactive, school business officials can manage environmental risk before it turns up in the drinking water or on the playground. [For Part 1, see EJ904678.]
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ904678.pdf
National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (2010).
This report provides mould remediation recommendations to Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) with the intention of making living conditions in homes better for the occupants. The mould remediation recommendations are based on available evidence from current research papers and mould assessments guidelines.
United States Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2010). (FEMA P-424)
This manual is the updated version of the original FEMA 424 published in January 2004. The original manual was the first of a series of publications (FEMA 577 – Design Guide for Improving Hospital Safety in Earthquakes, Floods, and High Winds: Providing Protection to People and Building and FEMA 543 – Design Guide for Improving Critical Facility Safety from Flooding and High Winds,) to provide guidance for the protection of various types of structures from natural disasters. FEMA P-424 addresses the protection of schools and their occupants against natural hazards (earthquakes, floods, and high winds.) Its intended audience is design professionals and school officials involved in the technical and financial decisions of school construction, repair, and renovations.
Havens, K. (2010). 76 (9)
Some parts of a school building do not age gracefully. At many elementary and middle schools--particularly those built in the 1960s or 1970s--old gyms are as useful (and attractive) as a worn-out pair of sneakers. To save money 20 years ago, school districts often used one space as a combination gym/lunch room/auditorium. Old gymnasiums offer hidden opportunities for schools to take advantage of newfound space. Instead of abandoning them, schools should view these gyms as blank canvasses for creating new rooms or areas for specialized programs and activities. Virtually every combination gym/lunch room or underutilized auxiliary gym is a viable candidate for re-purposing. The key in planning for the adaptive reuse of gyms is to think outside the box and outside the classroom
American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland (2010).
This report, Buildings for Academic Excellence, urgently asks city, state, and federal officials, and the greater Baltimore community, to act now to improve the substandard physical condition of city school buildings. It is unacceptable - as well as unconstitutional - to deprive city students of adequate school facilities and an equal opportunity in education. The modernization of school buildings is integral to Baltimore’s education reform effort. To help both students and teachers succeed, state and city leaders must make school facility improvements a higher priority.
http://www.abell.org/pubsitems/Buildings_for_Academic_Excellence_ACLU_060210.pdf
Havens, K. (2010). 76 (4)
A high school is more than a building; it's a repository of memories for many community members. High schools built at the turn of the century are not only cultural and civic landmarks, they are also often architectural treasures. When these facilities become outdated, a renovation that preserves the building's aesthetics and character is usually the preferred option. Today, the post-Gothic "generation" of high schools built in the 1950s and 1960s are often in disrepair and unsuitable for the needs of 21st-century students. Unlike their predecessors, however, these schools are not architectural icons; most are worn, drab, and dated. Yet many community members still consider these buildings "their schools" and strongly oppose their demolition. This loyalty factor, combined with the higher costs of new construction, has spurred a flurry of activity in the renovation of midcentury modern high schools. Although midcentury modern high schools seem hopelessly outdated to the casual observer, they have the potential for openness and flexibility that makes them ideal candidates for renovation. This article describes the renovations of Addison Trail, Naperville Central, and Willowbrook High Schools in Illinois which involved a "reboot" of the existing architecture into alignment with current educational requirements. A primary goal was to reconfigure spaces in ways that would contribute to students' learning and the vitality of campus life.
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ904665.pdf
Filardo, M., & O'Donnell, S. (2010).
21st Century School Fund have conducted a study to collect data and information on the federal role in funding and oversight for public PK-12 school facilities.
National Trust for Historic Preservation (2010).
A feasibility study of issues involved with renovation is the only tested way to evaluate the fit of an old building for contemporary educational uses. The checklist can help identify factors involved in making decisions and assure that a feasibility study is fair, objective and reasonable. It will assist in identifying "warning signs," questions to ask, and knowing what to look for when challenging the results and projected cost estimates of a feasibility study.
