What is a Capital Improvement?
June 2009

With all the talk lately about federal stimulus money for “shovel-ready” capital improvements, what is a capital improvement?

A public school’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a management tool for planning major projects that will be needed to house students adequately or to support the educational mission, including the maintenance of facilities.  It is a useful plan to coordinate the location, timing and financing of capital improvements over a multi-year period and refers to major, non-recurring physical expenditures such as land, new construction and equipment. 

A CIP is a comprehensive plan designed to address the need for new construction, renewals of existing facilities, and the upgrading and maintenance of a public school’s infrastructure.  Elements of a CIP typically include the following types of projects:

  • New or expanded physical structures permanent in nature
  • Remodeling or renovation of existing facilities
  • Land acquisition
  • Replacement of mechanical systems, roofs and other large maintenance projects

Planning for capital improvements is an ongoing process.  Prioritizing the work, with the available funding to address the most critical needs, is an ever-present challenge.  Priorities shift as conditions change at individual facilities, as programs and curriculum change and as student population changes.  This working document should be reviewed and updated annually to reflect the changing needs and funding opportunities such as federal stimulus funds.  Projects designed and ready for construction that can receive the stimulus funds, provides an opportunity to advance projects scheduled for later years.  A Capital Improvement Plan should strive to provide safe, healthy and high performing public school facilities.

Maureen Hannan

 

Greetings to all
April 2009

We’ve just finished our 2009 conference in Roanoke.  Despite the weather event, most of the folks who signed up made it to the conference.  Based on comments, emails, and our online evaluation the 2009 conference was a success.  Attendees seemed to have enjoyed our four keynote speakers--Ron Bogle, Frank Kelly, Susan Rundle, and Victoria Bergsagel—our breakout sessions and our charrette, our newest addition.   Many thanks to those of you who responded to our online evaluation.   Several folks took advantage of the survey to offer the board ideas to consider for next year’s 2010 conference.  Planning the mid-year conference and the annual conference will be the main focus of the board over the next several months.  Suggestions for topics and speakers are welcome.   The conference is for you.  Feel free to recommend topics you would like VEFP to address or speakers you would like to hear.

I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage folks to apply for the joint CEFPI-San Diego State University Online Advanced Certificate in Educational Facilities Planning.  The program consists of six graduate level two credit courses.  Each online course is eight weeks in length.  AIA has approved the program for recertification credit.  Students may request 30 hours of credit per course.   All students completing the coursework may apply for REFP status after completing the coursework.  If already an REFP, the courses may be applied to REFP renewal requirements.  I in the program and have found the coursework to be challenging, professionally broadening, and interesting.  There are students in the program from all sides of the facilities equation—architects, engineers, facility planners, educators, finance officers, etc.  Most students had never taken an online course before, but most of us feel it works well.  The online venue gives the students vastly differing perspectives because of the differing backgrounds and differing geographical perspectives.   In my group of 25 students, we have those who hail from about 15 different states, Peru, Australia, and Canada.  Take a moment and click the link below. Check it out.  Take the plunge.  Applications are being accepted for Fall 2009 right now.

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/schoolhouse/Cert/promo.htm

In the months ahead different members of the VEFP board will address various topics of interest to them, to the board, or to the membership.  Keep VEFP and CEFPI in mind and check in from time to time to see what’s new. 

Remember only 11 months to the 2010 conference on February 22-23, 2010 at the Hotel Roanoke.

Sincerely,

Len Wright

 

Please Join US!
March 2009

We’ve but one week before we convene in Roanoke, and I hope you’re looking forward to the 2009 VEFP conference as much as I am.  The board has assembled an unprecedented line-up of nationally-known provocateurs to complement a host of regional experts.  Our aim is to dig beneath the surface and gain a better understanding of how you – regardless of your seat at the table – impact how teachers teach and children learn.  

To that end our conference will include a new format this year.  There will be four general sessions accompanying our break-outs seminars, and all attendees will have a chance to hear all four of them.  Additionally, our four provocateurs will play a critical role in the conference by leading a collaborative exploration of design issues based on new understandings of how children learn.  We have also effectively opened the annual pre-conference to everyone by extending the conference on the front end at no additional cost.  Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. at the Hotel Roanoke and our opening session will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 2nd.

Complimentary resources will be made available to all attendees.  Our second general session speaker, Susan Rundle, will present a thought-provoking look at ways in which children learn.  To foster a deeper understanding and make this examination more relevant to each of us she has graciously offered to allow each registered attendee to complete the Building Excellence Learning Styles assessment.  That attached document contains instructions for completing the survey along with the website and password you will need in order to access it free of charge.  The results will shed new light on how we plan, design and construct learning environments impacts children’s ability to learn.

If you have not already made your reservation for this exciting conference you can still register on-line.  I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Bill Bradley

 

Welcome From President Bill Bradley
October 2008

Welcome to the VEFP’s newest member resource – a completely revamped website that’s intended to be a one-stop-shop for all of your facility planning and design needs. 

Take a moment to drill down.  You’ll find everything from information about our parent organization and contact information for Virginia REFPs to recent construction cost data and details about our mid-year seminars.  You’ll also find information about the Board of Directors, past Planners of the Year, and former winners of our architectural design competition.  Finally, you’ll find a library of useful links on just about every related topic under the sun and information about our annual conference.

Speaking of our annual conference, in a relatively short time it has grown from an intimate gathering of a handful of local planners to a regional event that draws 150-plus attendees from school districts and design firms from throughout the mid-Atlantic.  Last year we even drew from Luxembourg!  The success we have enjoyed is directly attributable to the caliber of presenters and provocateurs that have joined us from far afield to bring a broad range of expertise to bear upon the topic of school planning, design and construction. 

In 2009 we hope to elevate the conversation even further. 

The board met last week and set an agenda that will focus on understanding the role that each of us – regardless of where we sit at the table – plays in educating the child.  We are pleased to announce that Harvey Perkins, Susan Rundle and Frank Kelly will be joining us and that every attendee will have an opportunity to hear each speak.  The conference will also include great break-out sessions on topics ranging from net-zero energy schools and learning landscapes to building information modeling (BIM) and an integrated design process (IDP).  Finally, the conference will include a hands-on design charrette allowing each of us to bring our own experience and perspective to bear as we collaborate to create better learning environments for children.

We hope you will join us for our conference.  Further details are forthcoming, but in the meantime mark your calendars for March 2-3, 2009.

We also hope you enjoy this new member resource.  We invite your participation and ask that you send us your feedback and suggestions including suggestions for links to include in our library.

Sincerely,

Bill Bradley