This paper discusses the present enrollment decline in public schools and its implications for students, teachers, administrators, curriculum, community, and especially school facilities. One problem of declining enrollment is that the average age and years of experience of staff personnel has tended to rise, creating a predominantly white,…

Documented health hazards associated with Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), especially for children, justify school smoking bans. Acknowledging that enforcement may be difficult, this article suggests several implementation strategies; stressing health benefits and positive steps to help smokers quit. (IAH)

A Connecticut district's stringent asbestos removal and testing program is described, which applies a modified National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health-Occupational Safety and Health Administration (NIOSH-OSHA) test as a standard of acceptable removal. (MJL)

Reported are the results of a national survey conducted by the American Association of School Administrators to determine energy consumption in the nation's schools for the 1977-78 school year. Usable responses were received from 30% of the sample. Data indicate that, while energy consumption over a five-year period had been reduced, there is…

The objective of the Saving Schoolhouse Energy Program was to generate information that school administrators and federal energy/education decision makers could use to identify ways of implementing specific, economical remedies to reduce energy waste in schools. This program was designed to have five phases: (1) Conduct an energy audit of ten…

Examines the five major threats to healthy school buildings: sick building syndrome; health-threatening building materials; environmental hazards such as radon gas and asbestos; lead poisoning; and general indoor air quality. Discusses ways to assess and address them. (SR)

The "turf" concerns of educators have hampered school facility design that provides housing for both school and community programs. Community center schools are defined. Staffing problems of human services and schools in a co-location, factors in the project's success, the facility, security, and current directions of community center…

Examines issues and influences surrounding massive school closure in Seattle, Washington, and identifies factors that led to the success of a program to rescue school space for other purposes. Attributes the success of the reuse program to planning policies and management processes, city government cooperation, and citizen involvement. (MJL)

Three-fourths of American schools are in substandard condition. Health effects associated with indoor air/environmental quality are a major concern. Sick building syndrome, which causes illness in occupants, generally results from particulates, volatile organic compounds, biologicals, or radio-nucleotides. The article recommends how to deal with…

Eugene (OR) School District 4J is experiencing declining enrollments on a district-wide basis, but these declines have not been evenly distributed throughout the district. Schools in the Central city and older neighborhoods are experiencing declines, while schools in newer neighborhoods at the periphery are generally more crowded. At some future…

Problems relating to school environment and building concerns eat up school budgets and negatively influence the overall fiscal condition of school districts. The article examines three issues impacting on school finance for the 1990s: environmental hazards (asbestos, radon, lead, electromagnetic fields, and air quality), school infrastructure…

Guidelines for the use of school physical education facilities by nonschool groups are summarized. A written district policy, a facility use agreement form, proof of insurance coverage, a fee schedule, and clear policies on prohibited activities are recommended. Selected regulations for community sports are cited. (MJL)

Health problems related to school buildings can be categorized in five major areas: sick-building syndrome; health-threatening building materials; environmental hazards such as radon gas and asbestos; lead poisoning; and poor indoor air quality due to smoke, chemicals, and other pollutants. This paper provides an overview of these areas,…

To help New York's State Department of Education assess public school districts' energy conservation activities, the results of an audit of school districts' energy conservation activities are presented. The audit shows that most school districts have made some efforts toward energy conservation and that the Department does provide some assistance…

The current problems of higher education in Poland are addressed, with focus on its variety, operation, and history. The emphasis is on the development of events during the past decade and particularly since 1980. One in a series of monographs on national systems of higher education in Europe, this report covers the following: (1) introduction;…