Outlook 2012
Jan 1, 2012 12:00 PM, By Mike Kennedy (mkennedy@asumag.com)
Education institutions must keep a tight rein on spending as they search for signs that the national economy is back on its feet.
Washington-Rose Elementary School; Roosevelt, N.Y.; Perletter Wright, Principal; Architect: Cannon Design Photo by Tim Wilkes Photography
It might be tempting for education administrators, saddled with an accumulation of budget cuts and dwindling resources, to keep their heads down and concern themselves with only the immediate future as they try to overcome a host of obstacles and provide a high-quality education to students.
But schools and universities have to pay attention not only to day-to-day matters, but also to the changes that continually transform what is occurring in schoolhouses across the nation.
In 2012, new buildings will open on some college campuses, while elsewhere a school district has to make a painful decision to close a beloved, but obsolete facility. Administrators must keep up-to-date on the latest technology and how new devices can enhance student learning or school operations. Schools and universities must constantly be on the lookout for new ways to build and operate facilities more efficiently. They also must make sure they prioritize their spending so that scarce resources can be put to the best use. At the same time, they have to be prepared to slash that spending when revenue sources are taken away.
The outlook for schools and universities is about the same as it has been for a few years. A slow, uncertain economic recovery has improved finances in some parts of the country, but for others, the absence of recovery may require further cuts. It’s difficult to portray overall conditions when each of the thousands of school districts and higher-education campuses has its own unique characteristics and problems.
But regardless of whether improvements are already being seen or are too far down the road, education administrators have to envision what they can accomplish and be prepared for what might turn out to be a grim reality:
- Funding
- Charter Schools
- Construction
- Equity
- Closings
- Growth
- Maintenance & Operations
- No Child Left Behind
- Nutrition
- Security
- Technology
- Sustainability
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