School construction or renovation projects can have a profound affect on students, faculty and administration. The literature revealed that continuous communication is essential for a smooth process. This research identified bureaucratic issues and school climate to be leading factors of concern during construction projects. Analysis of this study indicated that female Principals experience more stress during construction projects, and building leaders regardless of gender who oversee a rural school facility experience more stress than their suburban counterparts. The more experience the Principal has the easier it is for him/her to deal with school climate issues and concerns. The researchers also found that increased staff recruiting was not significant. The majority of the building contractors did work with school officials to minimize disruptions to the day-to-day activities during school hours. However, many schools did not receive additional resources from the district office to help smooth the teaching and learning process during the project. Instrumentation is appended. (Contains 6 tables.).

'The Impact of School Infrastructure on Learning: A Synthesis of the Evidence provides an excellent literature review of the resources that explore the areas of focus for improved student learning, particularly the aspiration for “accessible, well-built, child-centered, synergetic and fully realized learning environments.†? Written in a style which is both clear and accessible, it is a practical reference for senior government officials and professionals involved in the planning and design of educational facilities, as well as for educators and school leaders. --Yuri Belfali, Head of Division, Early Childhood and Schools, OECD Directorate for Education and Skills This is an important and welcome addition to the surprisingly small, evidence base on the impacts of school infrastructure given the capital investment involved. It will provide policy makers, practitioners, and those who are about to commission a new build with an important and comprehensive point of reference. The emphasis on safe and healthy spaces for teaching and learning is particularly welcome. --Harry Daniels, Professor of Education, Department of Education, Oxford University, UK This report offers a useful library of recent research to support the, connection between facility quality and student outcomes. At the same time, it also points to the unmet need for research to provide verifiable and reliable information on this connection. With such evidence, decisionmakers will be better positioned to accurately balance the allocation of limited resources among the multiple competing dimensions of school policy, including the construction and maintenance of the school facility. --David Lever, K-12 Facility Planner, Former Executive Director of the Interagency Committee on School Construction, Maryland Many planners and designers are seeking a succinct body of research defining both the issues surrounding the global planning of facilities as well as the educational outcomes based on the quality of the space provided. The authors have finally brought that body of evidence together in this well-structured report. The case for better educational facilities is clearly defined and resources are succinctly identified to stimulate the dialogue to come. We should all join this conversation to further the process of globally enhancing learning-environment quality! --David Schrader, AIA, Educational Facility Planner and Designer, Former Chairman of the Board of Directors, Association for Learning Environments (A4LE)

This all-inclusive guide to building and renovating schools covers every step of the process – from initial planning, needs assessment and design, right through moving into the new facility. An essential resource for anyone concerned with new school construction or renovation, including architects and engineers, contractors and project managers, facility managers, school administrators and school board members, building committees, community leaders, and anyone else who wants to ensure that the project meets the schools’ needs in a cost-effective, timely manner. The contributors to this book – architects, construction project managers, contractors, and estimators who specialize in school construction – provide start-to-finish, expert guidance on the process. FEATURES: Includes guidance on: Planning and design Selecting a design team Green design standards and technologies Integrating computer and building automation technology Security equipment, design approaches and cost issues Design considerations for specialty spaces like performing arts centers, library/media centers, computer labs, and science and art classrooms.

This report was based on the responses of more than 1,000 school employees to a survey on the physical environment at their schools. Many of the responses revealed some startling building conditions, from students who have to wear coats and gloves in class to rats and mice entering classrooms through windows and cracks in walls. The report includes photographs of school conditions submitted by members of the American Federation of Teachers. The report notes that an increase in cases of asthma may be linked to poor air quality, student concentration may be affected by temperature extremes, and student and staff absenteeism may be due to an unhealthy "built environment." The report recommends federal action, including: (1) passage of the America's Better Classroom Act, which would provide $24.8 billion in school modernization bonds for renovation of existing buildings and construction of new schools; (2) passage of the 21st Century High Performing School Facilities Act, which would authorize grants to school districts for modernization and construction; (3) creation of a "Learning Environment Index" under NCLB that would require schools and districts to make improvements in the teaching and learning environment. The AFT recommends improvements at the state and local levels, including: (1) stronger standards for school building and systems inspections; (2) clear guidelines for school renovation practices; (3) uniform and comprehensive pest control and maintenance plans; and (4) increased involvement of union members in the planning of new school construction and renovation. This report contains six sections: (1) Introduction (High-quality teaching and a challenging curriculum are not enough); (2) The Problem (Inadequate, unhealthy and unsafe public school building conditions); (3) The Consequences (The effects of poor conditions on learning, health and staff retention); (4) The Elements (What makes a well-designed, well-built, well-maintained school?); (5) Recommendations (Actions at all levels that can improve school buildings); and (6) Conclusion. (Contains 21 endnotes.).

Start-to-finish guide to the renovation process.

Get the comprehensive guide to the sustainable design of schools. The elementary and secondary school buildings and campuses built today are the schools of the future. Sustainable School Architecture is a guide to the planning, architecture, and design of schools that are healthy, stimulating, and will conserve energy and resources. Written with the needs of architects, construction professionals, educators, and school administration in mind, the book provides a road map for sustainable planning, design, construction, and operations. By its very nature, a school is often the centerpiece of its community and, therefore, well positioned to take the lead in influencing environmental awareness. Building on this point, Sustainable School Architecture shows how eco-friendly practices for school construction can create an environment that young students will emulate and carry into the world. Written by experts on sustainable school design, this book: Focuses on the links between best sustainable practices and the specific needs of educational institutions. Has nineteen international case studies of the best contemporary sustainable schools located in urban, suburban, and rural communities in temperate, tropical, and extreme climate zones. Contains valuable information on the California Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating system. Serves as a resource for incremental modernization and operation strategies as well as comprehensive transformation. Offers tips on running an integrated, community-based design process with support information on the materials and systems of the sustainable school. Includes contributions by experts on approaches to the sites, systems, maintenance, and operation of sustainable schools. With a practical overview of how sustainability can be achieved in new and existing schools, and how to maintain this momentum in the years ahead, this important book provides architects with detailed guidance for designing healthier learning environments to help usher in a more promising future.

Nearly half of the nation's school buildings need to be renovated or replaced. This book provides a knowledge base for administrators to plan and manage construction projects, and addresses specific planning tasks including public opinion polling, enrollment projections, financial planning, selecting architects and other professionals, and managing facilities once they are operational. Theodore Kowalski addresses the administrative procedures associated with planning and managing school facilities. As noted at the outset, practitioner interest in school facilities has been growing rapidly in recent years because decades of neglect, poor planning, and cost cutting have created a situation in which large numbers of America's school buildings are in need of major repair or replacement. At the same time, the realization that costs related to repair and replacement have escalated significantly has fueled a new concern among school facility planning and management. Writing for school administrators, superintendents, and board members as well as graudate students in education, Kowalski discusses planning from the perspective of both individual facility projects and more comprehensive district-wide efforts. The responsibilities associated with administering school buildings are also approached from the individual school and district program perspectives. Part One of the book examines historical and contemporary perspectives of school facility planning. A systems perspective is provided for defining the adequacy of school buildings, and the effects of changing demographics, school reform, technology, and obsolescence are detailed. Various planning paradigms and needs assessment are the foci for Part Two. Part Three examines specific tasks related to completing a facility project. They include public opinion polling, securing professional services, and management responsibilities before, during, and after construction. Part Four includes these focused issues: planning elementary schools, planning secondary schools, doing enrollment projections, working with other agencies, choosing between renovation and new construction, financing capital outlay, and maintaining facilities once they become operational.