Unexpected repairs often thwart the best-laid plans. Technology continues to leap ahead. Another school shooting makes the news. Funding levels continue to fall short of the needs.
All the while, floors still have to be cleaned, students still need to fit comfortably in a classroom, and energy costs must still be kept in check.
Sometimes it can seem like the problems grow while the solutions remain as elusive as ever.
But the shrewd school administrator knows the perfect answer is not likely to manifest itself. Finding the right solution and maximizing resources takes work and often times a bit of ingenuity. So here are 10 strategies and up-to-the- minute developments that highlight how other schools and universities are faring in their quests to get the most out of what is available to them.
1. Technology
It’s no longer enough to simply offer Internet access. Schools and universities must now provide adequate access to Wi-Fi to keep pace with the technological shifts in the real world. But building up the infrastructure to support Wi-Fi can quickly derail the budget, leaving many small and rural schools stuck with spotty Wi-Fi or worse – dial-up Internet – while more affluent districts offer their students all the tools needed for a 21st century education.
Eligible districts, however, will have more opportunities to secure federal funding to help ease the pain of boosting their technological offerings.
Already this year, the Federal Communications Commission approved a modernization plan for the federal E-Rate Program, which subsidizes broadband and telephone services for schools and libraries. That means more funding available for wireless access, and another proposal is currently on the table to increase the E-Rate caps for high-speed broadband services.
2. Funding
Many public schools and state colleges continue to struggle with state funding reductions. But in some states, school districts have fought back.
These districts have even taken their respective state government to court over what they argue are unconstitutional funding formulas or broken funding promises.
A group of more than 600 schools in Texas have so far had success with this approach, as a judge ruled this year that the state’s “Robin Hood” approach to funding is unconstitutional. If the state loses its appeal, it would be forced to create a new funding formula. Meanwhile, the South Carolina Supreme Court also ruled this year that district officials were right when they accused the state of unconstitutional funding levels for rural and poor schools.
3. Growth
For districts experiencing explosive growth, those additional students come with new challenges that can include bond indebtedness, property acquisition and, in areas with a robust market, the rising cost of construction.
One of those districts is the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, which is located in a Houston suburb and the third largest district in Texas. The district is using a recently approved $1.2 billion bond to renovate and expand existing buildings while adding new campuses.
To help evaluate the district’s future needs, the district has sought the consultation of outside demographers to supplement the work of staff. Their analysis has helped the district better understand neighborhood trends, when growth in a certain area might be only temporary and how future development will likely affect the school system.
“That document (demographic study) was very instrumental in working with our community members as we were developing the needs and the growth of the district and the number of new facilities we needed to build compared to some of the renovations that we needed to do also to support programs,” said Roy Sprague, associate superintendent for facilities, construction and support services.
4. Utilization of space
Declines in enrollment, of course, come with their own pitfalls. Eroding student populations can eventually force school leaders to make difficult decisions about their buildings, especially if precious dollars are being spent on empty facilities.
Meanwhile, more districts are also moving away from traditional library and classroom spaces and building more multipurpose areas that can serve a variety of purposes as technology changes and learning philosophies evolve. Flexible furnishings are the key to making this possible.
5. Green practices
The green movement is taking over the kitchen on many campuses. Arizona State University, for example, is working to reduce the amount of waste it sends to the landfill by only using the food that is needed. The food that isn’t consumed is either composted or shared with a nonprofit that distributes meals to those in need.
Schools are also growing much of their own herbs and vegetables. Chefs at North Carolina State University, for one, started using organic gardening methods, including a hydroponic watering system, to nurture their rooftop garden. It doesn’t have to be expensive either. The NCSU garden was established at a cost of $1,000.
6. Safety
An increasing number of districts are finding that safe rooms don’t have to resemble an underground bunker. Several districts have built gyms that double as a place a refuge. With bright colors and recreational equipment on hand, students can safely ride out a tornado or other catastrophic event.
7. Security
The country is continuing to see a proliferation of door access control systems. When schools and universities can afford it, they’re finding that keycards are difficult to copy and easy to deactivate when needed. It also helps administrators better monitor the comings and goings of occupants.
8. Healthy schools
The spread of enterovirus D68 in several states this year brought renewed focus to the importance of having a disinfection plan. When the outbreak peaked in the fall, the schools with infected students went beyond their routine practices and conducted additional disinfecting of buildings and buses to prevent the virus from spreading.
9. Maintenance
Computerized maintenance is becoming the go-to method for improving efficiencies at many schools and universities. There are fewer educational institutions still using pen and paper, but they do exist. Those who use a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) say it helps track work orders and plan scheduled maintenance.
Most systems now also allow staff to check the status of their request instead of leaving them to wonder. Facility managers can use CMMS to better utilize their limited resources, and some are even using CMMS to track and improve energy usage of their buildings.
10. Connecting with the community
So you have a website, social media accounts and blogs. But are you fully utilizing them? Making the effort to share regular updates can be an effective way to keep the community apprised of not just important announcements but also the day-to-day accomplishments of students and staff and how the public can get involved.
Maintaining an open line of communication with the world beyond the school walls can pay off when it comes time to ask the community to support bond issues. The more they know, the more they’ll understand the needs.
Remember Cypress-Fairbanks and its $1.2 billion bond program? They made it a point to post key bond-related material, including meeting documents, on their website.
There’s never a guarantee that these efforts will lead to success on election day, but keeping the community informed about the district’s successes, needs and goals will increase the chances.
