Describes the challenge that Illinois faces in trying to bring its older schools up to date. Discusses the debate over replacement versus renovation, enrollment and projected rises in this rate, the need to accommodate advanced technology programs, and the billions of dollars it will take to render these structures suitable for instruction. (RJM)

Offers a selection process through which a school district will have a better chance of selecting an architect who can best assist their specific building program. (Author/MLF)

Costs that may increase the original school construction estimates include school-design inefficiency, architect fees, and costs for land, site development, technology, demolition, consultants, and security. A quality-review team can plan to avoid hidden costs and ensure that the new facility will meet instructional needs at the least possible…

Describes techniques to estimate costs to both physically improve a school facility and make it more educationally adequate. Discusses developing the space-utilization plan, designing for scheduling efficiency, and calculating costs for the site and specific facilities. (LMI)

Contains a planning prospectus a consultant group might utilize in serving the planning needs of a medium size school district. Includes the types of tasks and data which need to be performed and analyzed for the effective completion of a facility planning effort. Planning prospectus content was obtained from Tuba City School District, Arizona's…