'
2. Set!Minimum!Adequacy!Standards!
Establish'minimum'adequacy'standards'for'school'facilities'that'are'flexible'
enough'to'meet'the'specific'educational'program'and'service'needs'of'the'
students,'teachers,'and'the'community.'States'that'provide'funding'to'support'
capital'improvements'in'their'public'schools'use'a'variety'of'measures'to'
determine'need.'These'measures'have'generally'resulted'from'historical'
policies,'and'are'often'based'upon'discussion'and/or'negotiations'among'the'
parties'representing'various'stakeholders.'Evaluating'projects'based'on'a'
combination'of'objective'and'subjective'criteria'should'include'factors'such'as:'
projected'enrollment'above'capacity,'the'number'of'un^housed'students,'
overcrowded'schools,'age'of'school'and'its'condition,'age'of'building'system'
and/or'components,'number'of'square'feet'in'the'building'and'proposed'
scope'of'work,'level'of'maintenance'performed'by'the'district'to'protect'
taxpayer'investment,'relative'wealth'of'the'school'district,'property'values,'
and'willingness'of'the'district'to'raise'revenue'for'capital'projects.'The'
Minimum'Adequacy'Standard'assists'in'prioritizing'projects'to'address'the'
most'basic'needs'while'achieving'equity'within'schools.'
!
3. Build!Restricted!Reserves!
An'effective'asset'management'strategy'is'planning'for'and'building'restricted'
financial'reserves'to'respond'to'facilities^related'operating'contingencies'–'
such'as'the'immediate'need'to'replace'a'roof.'This'practice'ensures'that'the'
necessary'equity'is'in'place'to'act'when'a'unique'opportunity'emerges'
suddenly.'In'general,'it'is'challenging'for'both'new'and'growing'School'
Districts'to'set'aside'funds'for'this'purpose.'One'way'to'create'adequate'
reserves'is'to'budget'on'a'cash^flow'basis'and'set'aside'amounts'equal'to'
facilities'depreciation'expenses'(which'are'a'non^cash'item'for'accounting'
purposes)'on'an'annual'basis'until'a'specified'cash'reserve'target'has'been'
reached.'''
'
4. Invest!in!Preventive!Maintenance!
Preventive'maintenance'is'critical'especially'as'facilities'age,'school'
enrollment'peaks,'and'school'entitlement'revenues'flat^line,'it'is'inevitable'
that'costly'replacement'or'emergency'repair'needs'will'arise.'Paying'sufficient'
attention'to'preventive'maintenance'will'slow'the'deterioration'of'facilities'
resulting'in'increased'efficiency'and'savings'for'both'the'school'and'facilities'
management.'''
'
5. Involve!Students,!Parents!and!the!Community!in!School!Maintenance!
and!Safety!
Involve'students,'parents'and'the'community'in'school'maintenance'and'
safety'activities'such'as:'
• Ask'input'from'students,'parents'and'staff,'to'create'safety'and'keep'
buildings'in'good'condition'with'clear'expectations'and'consequences.'