Except for unusually large and complicated school building projects, it is more cost-effective to use consultants and in-house personnel for project administration than it is to retain an outside construction-management firm. (MLF)

Strategic planning provides a comprehensive, systematic, and flexible approach to charting direction. Lists an eight-step process and questions for strategic planning. Emphasizes the role of architects in strategic planning. (five references) (MLF)

Educational facility standards serve as a quality control, and facility standards for building area and size affect financing and are deterrents to abuse. Direct and expert involvement of planning professionals is necessary in applying standards to educational facility projects. (MLF)

Adjusting an educational-capital-improvement project to a limited budget may mean deferral of equipment and furniture, changes in the acoustical-visual-thermal environment, and space reduction. The challenge affecting deferral decisions is to determine whether the deferral will have an adverse affect on teaching and learning. (MLF)

When planning new school buildings or modifications to existing structures, checking facility planning in relation to technology planning is critical. Areas requiring serious attention include space, electricity, lighting, security, furnishings, shielding, and acoustics. (MLF)

Discusses issues to consider in managing school space. Among these are the program-plan-budgeting system (PPBS), deferred maintenance of aging buildings, and state involvement in facility financing. (MLF)

Educational facility planners should join with state education department and legislative research personnel and even courts to generate model policies and funding mechanisms addressing state involvement in local capital outlay financing. (MLF)