Carpeting helps prevent falls, absorbs sound, reduces fatigue, and adds warmth to a school environment. New technologies make carpet more stain- and wear-resistant than it was only a few years ago. (MLF)

Describes how one school district was able to efficiently install fragile telecommunication cabling throughout its high school and save thousands of dollars. Discusses solutions to some common cable-management problems. (GR)

Discusses the importance of a vehicle maintenance program for school districts that can reduce overall costs and improve safety. It describes developing a maintenance plan and its implementation, and recordkeeping tips. In addition, it highlights where to find vehicle maintenance training and resources. (GR)

Explains how to convince school administration of the importance of roof-maintenance programs as a way of extending roof life and saving money, even in the presence of roof warranties. Discusses techniques for evaluating the cost benefits of roof maintenance and the importance of creating a roof historical file. (GR)

Describes the use of the charge-back system to foster better financial decision making, organizational efficiency, and waste prevention. Discusses an example of the charge-back system in reducing copying costs, including charging criteria. (GR)

Fulton County (Georgia) is using construction management for all of its school construction jobs. This strategy allows the board to select a manager purely on the basis of merit and to have more control over subcontractor selection (including selection of more minority contractors) and management. (MLF)

Describes the Huntsville, Alabama, school district's use of surveillance cameras and other high-tech equipment to ward off arson, theft, and vandalism. Discusses how these efforts reduced repair and replacement costs and helped the district retain its insurance coverage. (GR)

Describes one Massachusetts school district's solution to rising energy costs by using contract services to head off capital costs and guarantee savings. Highlights keys to successful management of this contracting system and the elements that make up a successful contract services candidate. (GR)

An electronic requisition and purchase-order system helps Louisville's schools stay legal and efficient. Designated individuals in schools create requisitions electronically and route them to the purchasing department, which generates and sends out paper purchase orders after checking the requisitions for correctness and legality. (MLF)

In buying school supplies and roofing, school districts need to realize that low bid too often equates to low quality, high maintenance, poor performance, and short life. The key is to write bid specifications that look at the life-cycle cost, not just the initial cost. (MLF)

Sprinklers can protect school buildings, save lives, and actually reduce construction costs. Sprinkler-system costs can be easily offset by insurance savings, as well as by specific alternatives or design options permitted by nationally recognized building codes in view of the superior protection that sprinklers provide. (MLF)

Examines the Syracuse School District's custodial staff's efforts to simultaneously increase revenue, lower costs, and create a more healthful school environment. Tips for successfully transforming the custodial department from old to modern, efficient methods are highlighted. (GR)

The Energy Star Buildings program assists school districts in reducing energy costs. Traditional and creative funding opportunities are outlined. For the voluntary program, the Environmental Protection Agency provides no-cost technical support, software, workshops, technology updates, and other tools to all participants. (MLF)

A campus murder prompted the Mount Vernon, New York, schools to respond with better staff training and security technology. The district is using a combination of in-house and outside training resources for continuing education and refresher courses for the security staff. New technology will include a computer-based identification system and a…

Describes the use of a computerized roof management system (CRMS) for school districts to foster multiple roof maintenance efficiency and cost effectiveness. Highlights CRMS software manufacturer choices, as well as the types of nondestructive testing equipment tools that can be used to evaluate roof conditions. (GR)