In this paper, the 21st Century School Fund and the Center for Cities and Schools at the University of California Berkeley provide a conceptual frame for the joint use of PK-12 public school buildings. There is a growing conversation about and demand for joint use as a way to provide services to children and families in convenient locations,…

Explains the procedure for applying for the Schools and Hospitals Grant Program for financing energy conservation measures. (JM)

As the public becomes more aware of the health and environmental risks pesticides may pose, its interest in seeking the use of equally effective alternative pest control methods increases. School administrators and other persons who have pest control decision-making responsibilities for school buildings and grounds can use this guide to become…

The renovation of existing school buildings may not always be the least expensive or the quickest response to facility needs, but it is often the most politically acceptable. To help with school renovations, this text provides detailed guidelines that school systems can use in renovation projects. It offers a step-by-step approach to the planning…

Argues that hiring an architect for a fixed fee will not save money over the standard practice of hiring an architect for a percentage of the building cost. (IRT)

Old schools are among the finest examples we have of period architecture, craftsmanship, and decorative use of building and art materials. Advises on how to decide if a school is worth saving, identifies preservation groups that can help, and describes three New Jersey schools that are classics. (MLF)

Spokane (Washington) School District No. 81 has replaced 12 obsolete elementary schools and enlarged a thirteenth. A design competition involving three consortia of 10 local architectural firms and the use of a prototype design for all 12 new schools saved the school district about $8 million from the original estimate. (MLF)

This manual is designed to fill two distinct needs in the school maintenance field: (1) a text or resource in training new maintenance staff members and in staff development, and (2) a reference source for the routine tasks and problems encountered in school sanitation and maintenance. Section 1 covers the basics of good school maintenance,…

The advantages and disadvantages of five alternative ways of using surplus space available to school systems. (Author)

According to New York State law, all school districts and BOCES are required to conduct annual visual structural inspections of all district owned educational facilities and in accordance to the "Guidelines for Visual Structural Inspections of Student Occupied Public School Buildings." This document presents the interim guidelines for…

Repudiates Herbert Walberg's recent review article touting homework's beneficial effects on achievement scores. Presents evidence showing that good learning environments, interactive situations, and less restricted access to community and school resources (including new technologies) were of greater significance. Faults schools' organizational…

Aurora, Colorado's Horizon Middle School maintains good community relations partly by housing a branch of the city library, a city-sponsored community center, three classrooms for a preschool, a sixth-grade class, a boy scout troop, soccer teams, local homeowners' associations, and two church groups. (PGD)

For the postoccupancy evaluation of a Colorado high school, four instruments probed different aspects of the total facility. Tables show responses from different groups regarding the overall quality of primary space, building design, and site facilities. (MLF)

This publication recommends that school districts include a legal plan in every school construction project. The author discusses negotiating agreements with the project architect and construction manager early on; exercising due diligence in selecting the project team; determining proper levels of professional liability insurance; clarifying…

The philosophy of curricular and extracurricular activities at Barrie Junior/Senior High School (located eight miles north of Washington, DC) are described. Barrie is one of several schools offering Montessori programs for secondary students. The school and site are also described. (Author/JN)