School Facilities Improvement Plan: Guiding Principles

School Facilities Improvement Plan
Guiding Principles
1. Student Engagement and Achievement

Schools should provide a variety of spaces, tools, and resources at each level of
education to promote student engagement and achievement. All schools should
provide comfortable and inviting learning environments dedicated to the success of
every child.
2. Safety and Security

All school sites and facilities, new or existing, need to have design elements that
provide safe and secure campuses.
3. School Size
The district should explore all alternatives and opportunities for establishing and
maintaining small school communities and smaller learning environments.
4. Flexibility
Facilities should promote flexible use, including space designed to accommodate
different grade level configurations, physical education, health and social services,
special education, intervention, conferencing, performing arts, science, career/technical
education, large and small group meetings and activities, food service and dining,
professional development, alternative educational programs, and storage.
5. Classroom Design
Classrooms should facilitate a variety of learning styles and teaching methodologies.
Classrooms should be designed to provide multi-use spaces that support small and
large group learning. Classrooms should promote thinking atmospheres and student
learning. Classrooms should be of adequate size with good acoustics and should have
appropriate furniture and technology, individual HVAC controls, water, wall display
space, and should be handicap-accessible. Additionally, classrooms should provide
adequate space for storage and teacher preparation.
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6. Safe Routes to School
Safe and well-marked pedestrian and bicycle pathways should encourage alternative
access to schools. Designated areas for bus transportation, loading zones, parent pick-
up and drop-off, and school parking should be designed to facilitate efficient and safe
passage through clearly indicated entry points and exits. Parking lots should provide
adequate lighting for evening activities.
7. Library Media Center

There is a continuing need for each school site to have a centralized “library” that is
accessible to the school community. In light of technological developments, the library
needs to be able to adapt to and accommodate changing media resources. Where
possible, libraries should be located near the main entry of the school.
8. Technology and Communication

Schools should be designed with “anyone, anytime, anywhere” technology for learning
and communication, allowing for instantaneous communication between individuals,
groups and campuses. Available technology should enable efficient and effective
processes to take full advantage of learning opportunities.
9. Early Childhood Education and Extended Care

Adequate space for pre-school and extended care programs (either publicly funded or
fee-based) should be provided on sites or alternative locations based on assessed
community needs.
10. Parent and Community Involvement

Facilities should demonstrate a friendly and attractive atmosphere for students, families,
and community members. Resource centers, meeting rooms, athletic and performing
arts facilities and parent education space should be located and designed for multiple
uses, with restricted access to other areas of the campus. Sites should provide well-
displayed and clearly communicated signage and location maps in appropriate
languages.
11. Environmental (“Green”) Stewardship

Facilities should reflect the District’s environmental and financial responsibility to the
community through use of proven design features that maximize energy and water
efficiency, use sustainable building materials and low-maintenance landscaping, and
develop student awareness about environmental issues and solutions.
12. Curb Appeal

Physical aesthetics of facilities and grounds contribute to improved student
engagement. All schools should provide attractive and welcoming environments that
make students and their families feel valued and enhance community pride in the
neighborhood.
13. Ease of Maintenance
Design should allow ease of maintenance and cleaning and contribute to on-going
function, safety and aesthetics. It should also be adaptable to changes in building
standards, technology and educational needs.
14. Storage
Facilities should provide adequate secure storage for all academic, athletic and other
District programs.
15. Administrative Accessibility

Centralized services should be housed under one roof, providing adequate office,
meeting, collaborative and confidential spaces. New facilities should allow ease of
access.
16. Fiscal Integrity

Design and use of facilities should seek to maximize return on fiscal investments, assets
and resources and to encourage lease revenue, operational savings, and other revenue
sources and efficiencies.
17. Adaptability Over Time

The District should be responsive to changes in demographics, neighborhoods and
student needs over time. This includes school and class size, potential boundary
changes, designation of choice and alternative programs, school configuration and lease
or acquisition of land and facilities. Decisions should reflect a balanced consideration of
interests, including maintaining diverse schools, balancing total student populations,
offering choice and alternative programs, providing neighborhood schools, establishing
small school communities, and ensuring fiscal integrity and administrative efficiency.

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School Facilities Improvement Plan

1. Student Engagement and Achievement

2. Safety and Security

7. Library Media Center

8. Technology and Communication

9. Early Childhood Education and Extended Care

10. Parent and Community Involvement

11. Environmental (“Green”) Stewardship

12. Curb Appeal

15. Administrative Accessibility

16. Fiscal Integrity

17. Adaptability Over Time

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