School districts during 1979-80 were faced with a dramatic reallocation of maintenance and operations funds from salaries (a 25 percent reduction from that budgeted) to cover energy costs, with the balance used in a discretionary manner to purchase equipment and supplies and contract salaries as the year evolved. (Author/MLF)

First of a two-part series offers suggestions of things a school district can do that may be important and may contribute to a better insurability climate. (Author/MLF)

The director of facilities at a prestigious 75-year-old Delaware school located an easy-to-implement software program to computerize the schools's physical-plant system. The right software helps facilities managers oversee schools' physical plants, including budgeting and maintenance. (MLF)

An annual survey of college maintenance and operations (M & O) funding concludes, among other detailed findings, that college spending held steady this year, even in tough economic times. (EV)

Using facility subsystems as the unit of analysis, the maintenance planner can construct a projection of what is required to maintain facilities in good operating condition. Subsystems are identified: foundations and floor and roof structures; roofing; exterior; interior; elevators; plumbing; heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning; electrical;…

Analyzes six-year trend data on enrollment, adjusted assessed valuation, unappropriated fund balance, delinquent taxes receivable, and adjusted maintenance cost in rural school districts. Shows that districts with fewer than three sections per grade experienced greater adverse effects as a result of community demographic and economic change.…

After a study of 3,000 classrooms in 130 schools in 16 states, the Environmental Protection Agency urged all schools to conduct tests for radon. Explains a 6-step screening test, methods of reducing radon concentrations, and how the risk from radon exposure compares with other risks. (MLF)

Offers an overview of Japanese public lower secondary school education (the equivalent of American grades seven through nine), discussing school system organization, school customs and rules, school structure, and students' preparation for the future. (SR)

Insufficient resource allocation to facilities maintenance and decisions to defer maintenance are contributors to a backlog of deferred maintenance nationwide. Focuses on the infrastructure of New York schools and suggests incentives at the state level to ensure adequate attention is given to plant maintenance. (eight references) (MLF)

School systems should test the air in every school building for the presence and level of contaminants such as radon and asbestos and whether the ventilation system is circulating the proper amount of air. Periodic maintenance is required for all mechanical systems. (MLF)

Analyzes information on 1,056 (61 percent) of the 1,721 Georgia public school buildings concerning the relationships among roof age, roof types, and roof problems. (17 references) (MLF)

Bond issue funds were earmarked for remodeling 10 schools in a Florida school district. Describes a physical plant survey instrument used to examine each district school building to determine the district needs and the method that prioritizes those needs. (MLF)

With the increasing focus on educational facilities, facilities managers are experiencing heightened scrutiny over their roles. This report examines the kinds of questions that school board members, superintendents, and administrators are asking facilities managers and the possible consequences of this new attention, such as more outsourcing. (RJM)

Presents survey data on school maintenance and operations (M & O) budgets that show school districts nationwide are allocating, for the second year in a row, a smaller proportion of their budgets to preserve and run their facilities. M & O comparable cost-data are listed on a per-student and per-building square-footage basis for nine…

Presents survey data on school maintenance and operations (M & O) budgets that show colleges are addressing facilities concerns by increasing M & O funding. M & O comparative-cost data are listed on a per-full-time student and per-building square-footage basis for all colleges, and two- and four-year schools. M & O administrative…