Planning Guide for Maintaining School Facilities

Ensuring Environmental Safety

• Safety First!
• Learn about the environmental regulations

Four Horsemen of School Facilities Management

• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
• Asbestos
• Water Management
• WasteManagement

IAQ

• Encompasses almost anything and everything that affects air in a building.
• Can affect student and teacher performance.
• Respond to warning signs and have a plan.

Scenario 1: Terry, the facilities director, and his staff had done everything they could think of to solve an IAQ complaint from a student's parent, but to no avail. Finally, they hired a consulting company to assess the problem--and all proved to be in good working order. Indoor air lab tests revealed no concerns. Pollutants from building and housekeeping sources were checked as were air temp and humidity. There were no leaks or mold. Meanwhile, the child's parents notified every authority they knew, and eventually the media were on to the story. A doctor verified that the student was reacting to something in the school, and when the student transferred schools, the symptoms cleared up! After weeks of investigative work, Terry's staff saw a teachers aide spraying an insecticide (lightly) in the students former classroom because she had seen ants. It became known that the student was hypersensitive to the pesticide. How would you handle this situation as a principal to prevent a similar situation in the future?

IAQ Walk Through

Asbestos

• Federal law requires that school organizations conduct asbestos inspections every three years and perform semiannual surveillance.
• Preventing the release of asbestos fibers into the air is the primary concern.
• AHERA

Water Management

• Community vs. Non-Community Water Systems
• Safe Water Drinking Act

Waste Management

• Right to Know Act
• Hazardous Waste
• Medical Waste
• Wastewater Management

Other Safety Concerns

• Hazardous materials
• Integrated Pest Management
• Lead paint
• Personal Protective Equipment
• "Dirty Dozen"

Discussion

• How can you as a principal ensure that environmental safety is appropriately addressed without becoming overwhelmed? What procedures might you put in place?

Maintaining Facilities and Grounds

Maintenance Spectrum

Maintenance Operations Issues

• Access Controls
• Boilers
• Electrical Systems
• Energy management
• Fire Alarms
• Floors
• HVAC
• Painting
• Plumbing
• Roof

Custodial Activities

• Establish Expectations
• Area vs. Team Cleaning

Discussion

• Should custodians perform light maintenance activities?
• How can you involve everyone in keeping the school clean?

Grounds Management

• Determine frequency and level of maintenance
• Recommended levels of service for basic grounds care: Acceptable = staff 1:20 acres Standard = staff 1:18 acres High = staff 1:15 acres
• Recommended levels of service for athletic field aeration: Acceptable = once (1)/year High = five (5) times/year
• These recommendations must be modified to accommodate local circumstances.

Organization and Management

• Learn your districts organization
• Work Order Systems
• Job Priority
• Managing Supplies

Discussion

• What role does maintenance have during renovations and construction?
• What maintenance considerations should be accounted for during the planning phase for construction?

Final Thoughts?

• Does the physical environment affect student learning?
• As a principal, what steps will you take to ensure an environment exists that will promote learning?