The school site design is now seen as part of community planning. Recreational, cultural, social, and educational facilities for adults are included in educational specifications. Three illustrations and two photographs demonstrated attractive school sites. Site area requirements for a new high school in Santa Fe, New Mexico are summarized. (MLF)

Four bits of precautionary advice are offered for boards in the process of closing schools: work with, not against, the local government; research property deeds carefully; choose judiciously whether to lease or sell; and avoid conflicts of interest. (TE)

Direct purchase of natural gas may help schools and universities avoid increases when price controls on new natural gas are removed. For an educational institution to take advantage of the new regulations, gas must be purchased and transportation arranged, either individually or through a consortium. (TE)

The introductory article to this special issue, entitled "Architectural Portfolio," forecasts, in the move toward the 21st century, grade organizational changes so that school districts can keep buildings operating; continued emphasis on energy conservation; and more educational funds going into school maintenance, modernization, and additions.…

Emory University, Georgia, has a space and equipment database management system that maintains inventories and generates reports. (MLF)

If the world of after-school programs is to be made more coherent, that process will occur mostly (and is being attempted mostly) at the city level. This brief document analyzes the tasks, questions, and challenges associated with what can be described as system-building in the after-school field, focusing on city level efforts. [This report was…

This paper presents a case study of the process of capital investment strategic planning at the Gold Coast Institute of Technical and Further Education (TAFE), Queensland, Australia. Capital investment strategic planning is a means of contributing to success by providing strategies to ensure that assets are managed efficiently, effectively, and…

In the process of planning a new site to serve students in Canyon Country (California), the College of the Canyons (COC) in Santa Clarita surveyed students to assess their needs. Anonymous questionnaires were mailed to the homes of 1,000 randomly selected students who lived in Canyon Country and had attended COC in fall 2000 or spring 2001. Of the…

This guide details the development of a 10-year Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP), along with its components and governing regulations. Chapters examine the CEFP process and requirements in the following areas: educational facilities planning; site design; common facilities necessary for school operation; facilities for primary…

This manual guides school districts in the development and adoption of written plans describing their construction needs and use of school facilities. The guide examines the selection, operation, and responsibilities of the local planning committee (LPC) and the types of research data to be collected. The Kentucky Department of Education's role in…

This Washington State manual explains the full spectrum of activities involved in the planning, design, and construction of successful and cost-effective projects for school facilities. Chapters cover advance planning; financing; site selection; educational specifications; consultant selection; school design; bidding, evaluation, and award of…

Developments in the field of brain research that focus on how humans learn is beginning to influence the way schools are being built and renovated. This report discusses how the brain learns, explores how this knowledge can be used to inform learning theory, and describes what instruction would be like in a brain-based learning environment as well…

This issue addresses (1) growing international interest in learning environments and their effects on behavior, and (2) design education, an integrated model for visual-spatial lifelong learning. It focuses on this new and emerging integrated field which integrates elements in education, new learning environment design, and the use of more two-…

This document presents educational specifications for a new high school in Ridley school District in Pennsylvania. The specifications are offered by the school's administration and faculty. They address in detail the following areas: (1) exterior (including site and building exterior); (2) building interior; (3) classrooms; (4) department centers;…

This document provides school systems and designers with design information that can be used as a basis for new schools, additions, and renovations when building public schools in North Carolina. Further, it serves as a planning guide for those in the process of building or renovating school facilities. The guidelines detail minimum requirements…