A rural New York school district has a nine-member facilities advisory committee charged to assess all of the facilities for needs of renovation and/or repair and prioritize a five-year plan for facility improvements. (MLF)

Envisions that the school of the future will more fully integrate educational processes with daily life and the community. Satellite neighborhood high schools will relate to a larger central "hub" that provides larger and more sophisticated facilities. (MLF)

Once the function of an outdoor educational facility has been determined, a site inventory should examine the site's physical characteristics, soil types, vegetation, water resources, and wildlife. Provides suggestions on maximizing usage of the site while minimizing detrimental effects of site development and long-term environmental damage. (LP)

Describes techniques to estimate costs to both physically improve a school facility and make it more educationally adequate. Discusses developing the space-utilization plan, designing for scheduling efficiency, and calculating costs for the site and specific facilities. (LMI)

Three California court decisions suggest that school districts should work with their cities and counties to put policies and guidelines in their general plan requiring public infrastructures, including schools, to keep pace with development. (MLF)

Describes how massive school restructuring in Kentucky is affecting school facility planning and construction. (MLF)

Addresses the practical requirements in providing barrier-free access to schools. Special attention is given to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Outlines requirements for the following areas: (1) parking, passenger loading, and building access; (2) corridors, elevators, and stairs; (3) classrooms; (4) restrooms; (5)…

Considered still valid today, this article was originally published in the December 1972 issue of this journal (EJ 068 129). Emphasizes that the selection of a school site is a complex decision that has a long-term effect on the community. Discusses initial decisions, potential rezoning, site characteristics, and special urban problems. Identifies…

Examines how school district/community organization alliances help fund new school construction as well as provide students and the general public with extended services. Examples of how school/community-use programs evolved and their accomplishments are provided. (GR)

Presents a detailed plan for school publications staffs in covering a crisis or disaster. Describes things to do before, during, and after the crisis (natural disasters, student deaths, fire, violence, etc.). Appends two exercises--ranking story ideas in order of importance, and establishing an emergency-contact list. (RS)

Describes a journalism adviser's dual role as teacher and adviser when it comes to covering school violence and the school's new security measures. Discusses production of a special issue of the Rockwood South (Missouri) "RAMpage" on school safety. (RS)

Third party management of the development and facilities delivery process is a response to trends in the design, construction, and legal industries. Changes in the process and the architect's organization, the role of the project manager, drawbacks to third party management, and the relevance for educational construction projects are discussed.…

Details the value management process in which a group of diverse, disciplined professionals work together to design a better facility for a given budget. Areas addressed include a definition of value management, some derived benefits, negative aspects, projects best suited to this method, specific results, who pays, who is involved, scaled-down…

Vancouver (Washington) is rebuilding its entire educational infrastructure. Community involvement in the planning process for each school has created a sense of ownership, created spaces that implement good educational ideas and accommodate community activities, and given each school its own "signature." An emphasis on efficiency has…

Describes the building design of the award-winning West Metro Education Program Interdistrict Downtown School in Minneapolis, including the educational context and design goals. Includes information on the size, construction costs, architects, and contractors. Also includes floor plans and photographs. (EV)