The first step in an improvement effort involves reflection and goal setting. By focusing inward and identifying needs, a person or a school can make great changes. This article discusses how a writing center can be a locus for change within a school. Most high school writing centers start because a few English teachers share a passion for…

California provides the paradigm for lessening devastating earthquake damage in U.S. buildings. This document examines specific examples of the seismic mitigation process, a process showing that seismic retrofit in existing schools in other parts of the country are possible and could lead to more general seismic rehabilitation in other buildings.…

Issues surrounding Minnesota's public school facilities, such as rapid student enrollment numbers in many areas, the energy crisis, asbestos removal, access for handicapped, and safety and modernization needs, are creating the need for school facility improvement programs. This guide addresses the need for school facility improvement that meets…

Building owners and managers can use performance-contracting Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) to partially or fully fund building renovations that include energy efficiency upgrades. This report provides building owners and managers with an introduction to the energy efficiency and building upgrade services provided by ESCOs. It uses 20 case…

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas in ambient air that is estimated to cause thousands of deaths from lung cancer each year. This report outlines ways in which to ameliorate the presence of radon in schools buildings. The first section is a general introduction for those who need background information on the indoor radon problem and…

The President of the United States uses the occasion of National School Modernization Day to offer brief remarks on the American economy and his administration's plans for improving educational facilities for the nation's children. He mentions the administration's first ever initiative at the national level to build, repair, or modernize 5,000…

This brief suggests that the condition of the nation's schools continues to be a problem because they are becoming increasingly obsolete and contain environmental hazards. This report provides data on the increase in school construction between 1950 and 1969 (corresponding to the Baby Boom generation); the percent of schools in oldest, moderate,…

In five high schools electricity is providing the benefits of flexible comfort conditioning as well as savings in space, initial costs, and operating expenses. (Author/MLF)

Over 300 North Carolina educators, administrators, and policy makers were brought together in a series of six conferences to express their views about what can be done to improve their state's schools. Two questions were discussed: (1) In the eyes of outstanding educators, what changes at the school building level would make the greatest…

Impressive advances in literacy education have been witnessed in Saudi Arabia during the last 15 years. Massive growth of educational facilities has resulted in increased adult enrollment in literacy programs. Certain strategies--curriculum improvement, inservice training, and experimental programs--were adopted to improve the quality of literacy…

Energy performance contractors provide services and equipment for administrators with innovative financing that requires no upfront costs to the clients. The range of tasks that facility managers must do to negotiate such contracts is, however, extensive. (MD)

An agreement between Johnson Controls and a Maryland school district provided financing for the initial capital expenditure to upgrade and control the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment at a high school and guaranteed savings during the 5-year contract. (MLF)

From the 79 outstanding projects, representing the full range of educational facilities featured in this special issue, the jury has awarded citations to 9 particularly outstanding projects. Descriptions, the jury's comments, photographs or drawings, and some floor plans are included. (MLF)

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)