Baker, K (2007). 194 (3)
This articles details the efforts by a Middle School in Oregon to save energy using a unique strategy to include students in the monitoring of energy usage.
Tag: Facilities Maintenance
Renovate or Replace? The Case for Restoring and Resuing Older School Buildings
Save Our Land, Save Our Town Inc., The Pennsylvania Historic Schools Task Force (2007).
A task force of state agencies and non-profit partner organizations produced “Renovate or Replace?. The publication contains essays from Pennsylvania officers. The Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, the PHMC, and the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Institute of Architects helped produce the publication. School districts are advised on the social, environmental, and economic advantages of retaining historic neighborhood schools.
Public School Principals Report on Their School Facilities – Fall 2005
Chaney, B. & Lewis, L. (2007).
This report is based on a survey of school principals conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. It presents current information on the extent of the match between the enrollment and the capacity of the school buildings, environmental factors that can affect the use of classrooms and school buildings, the extent and ways in which schools use portable buildings and the reasons for using them, the availability of dedicated rooms for particular subject areas (such as science labs or music rooms), and the cleanliness and maintenance of student restrooms.
Merging Eras
Mack, G., & Love, D. (2007). 194 (4)
This article details the renovation/restoration of a 1927 building into a neighborhood elementary school
Building Minds, Minding Buildings – Turning Crumbling Schools into Environments for Learning
American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO (AFT) (2006).
This report provides an overview of the condition of schools, the affect of those conditions on the ability of students to learn and staff to do their jobs; and outlines action for the AFT and our affiliates at the national, state and local level. (December 2006)
Growth and Disparity – A Decade of U.S. Public School Construction
Building Educational Success Together (2006).
In 1995, a federal report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) estimated that $112 billion was needed to bring the nation's school facilities into good repair. Subsequent studies estimated it would take more than $320 billion to build new schools to handle swelling enrollments, renovate aging buildings, and equip all buildings with the technologies needed to prepare students for success in the 21st century. By far, though, the most troubling findings were that the academically neediest students--minorities and impoverished students--were most likely to attend the most decrepit facilities. Now, for the first time ever, this report provides a comprehensive analysis of who has benefited from school construction spending across the nation. In this report, the Building Educational Success Together (BEST) research team looks at how much was spent, what was accomplished, and which students and communities saw benefits. The analysis looks at the decade from 1995, when the GAO report was first released, to 2004, the most current information available. The authors found unprecedented spending and growth in school facility construction across the country, but this report confirms what many educators and communities have suspected for years: these billions of dollars spent on facilities have not been equally available to affluent and low-income communities and for minority and white students. Overall, the schools in poor condition 10 years ago received the least investment in their facilities, even as the nation's schools have seen record spending in school facilities. This report is a step in recognizing the tremendous opportunity and challenge of providing the highest quality education and the highest quality school buildings to all our children.
Lead and Copper Rule – A Quick Reference Guide for Schools and Child Care Facilities That are Regulated Under the Safe Drinking Water Act
Environmental Protection Agency (Daly, S.) (2005). (EPA 816-F-05-030)
This document was designed for schools and child care facilities that meet the definition of a public water system and therefore must comply with the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) requirements.
The wise man builds his house upon rock – The effects of inadequate school building infrastructure on student achievement
Branham, D. (2004).
Objective. This article looks at the effect of school infrastructure on student attendance and drop-out rates. Methods. Using the school as the unit of analysis, Tobit analysis is performed to analyze 226 Houston Independent School District schools. Results. The quality of school infrastructure has a significant effect on school attendance and drop-out rates. Students are less likely to attend schools in need of structural repair, schools that use temporary structures, and schools that have understaffed janitorial services. Conclusions. School districts who wish to maximize attendance and minimize drop-out rates should avoid temporary solutions to school building inadequacies and provide students, teachers, and administrators with quality permanent structure schools, and quality janitorial staffs to maintain those schools.
Condition of America’s Public School Facilities – 1999
National Center for Educational Statistics (2000).
This report provides national data about the condition of public schools in 1999 based on a survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) using its Fast Response Survey System (FRSS). Specifically, this report provides information about the condition of school facilities and the costs to bring them into good condition; school plans for repairs, renovations, and replacements; the age of public schools; and overcrowding and practices used to address overcrowding. The results presented in this report are based on questionnaire data for 903 public elementary and secondary schools in the United States.
Hernando Parents Fear Potential School Closures Despite Poor Facilities
At a meeting on April 15, architects explained to parents and board members that the Westside Elementary in Spring Hill, Florida needed major repairs, especially on its roof. The cost of the necessary repairs is about $3 million. The board reminded parents that rain-soaked ceiling tiles had recently fallen in over computers. In his presentation, architect Steve Johnson displayed pictures of water leaking into lighting fixtures. Westside is the most likely of four schools the district could shut down after the school year to save money.
