Policy 4:150
Facility Management and Building Programs
The Superintendent shall manage the District’s facilities and grounds as well as facility construction and building programs in accordance with the law, the standards set forth in this policy, and other applicable Board of Education policies. The Superintendent or designee shall facilitate: (1) inspections of schools by the appropriate Intermediate Service Center and State Fire Marshal or designee, (2) review of plans and specifications for future construction or alterations of a school if requested by the relevant municipality, county (if applicable), or fire protection district, and (3) compliance with the 10-year safety survey process required by the School Code.
Standards for Managing Buildings and Grounds
All District buildings and grounds shall be adequately maintained in order to provide an appropriate, safe, and energy efficient physical environment for learning and teaching. The Superintendent or designee shall provide the Board with periodic reports on maintenance data and projected maintenance needs that include cost analysis. This policy is not intended to discourage efforts to improve the appearance of buildings or grounds that are consistent with the designated use of those buildings and grounds.
Standards for Green Cleaning
The superintendent or designee shall establish and supervise a green cleaning program that complies with the guidelines established by the Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council.
Standards for Facility Construction and Building Programs
As appropriate, the Board of Education will authorize a comprehensive study to determine the need for facility construction and expansion. On an annual basis, the superintendent or designee shall provide the Board with projected facility needs, enrollment trends, and other data impacting facility use. Board approval is needed for all new facility construction and expansion.
Facility Planning
The Board’s Facility Development Committee will annually review capital and maintenance projects for all school facilities. In addition, the Illinois State Board of Education and local fire department annually inspect all schools. The District’s ten year life safety plan is annually reviewed and updated by the Board Facility’s Development Committee.
Facility planning is an ongoing process that should reflect the complex and dynamic nature of educational programs. In planning facilities, it is necessary to maximize flexible space so that the existing program can be accommodated while anticipating future needs.
The Superintendent or his or her designee shall direct a facility planning process that takes into account current and future educational needs, safety, and efficiency. Through the facility planning process the district building needs are identified and prioritized, then plans are developed, reviewed and revised. Additionally, construction and maintenance timelines need to be developed and monitored until the finished product is accepted.
The Superintendent or his or her designee may draw upon a wide range of resources including the District staff, architects and educational consultants as well as the area utility, commercial, industrial, and governmental entities. All plans and specifications shall be in compliance with the Life Safety Code and all other mandatory codes.
The Board shall approve the retention of an architect, in compliance with the Local Government Professional Services Selection Act, as applicable. The Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee shall be responsible for the project and shall act as the Board’s representative in working with the architect on said project.
The following aspects should also be considered as facility needs are projected and planned:
- Safety and welfare of students and staff
- Financial ability of the School District, including present and projected budgetary limitations
- Changes in student population and organization of schools
- Community planning and zoning as well as relationship to the total community
- Plant and site aesthetics
- Relationship between projected new facilities/additions and those already in existence
- The extent of new construction shall be determined by the increase or decrease in enrollment, by student-teacher ratios, by changing educational programs, and by the condition of existing facilities.
Adopted: September 8, 1997
Revised: September 29, 2014; September 28, 2015; June 17, 2019