Read This Before Renovating Your School This Summer

With the end of the school year in sight — just a few more days, teachers! — we’re approaching the season of school renovations. Empty classrooms and clear hallways mean the necessary updates can be made through the summer months, but it’s not all a breeze. Countless components have to come together for school renovations to be completed in a timely and effective manner. Taking the time now to prepare yourself for the renovation process can ensure the project is completed on-time and adequately — and with as few headaches as possible. Here we share our own advice for school renovations, as well as input from three local school administrators who have been through the process. Read below!

Media centers and common spaces are becoming essentials to the learning environment; but before your school renovates, make sure you have the right resources on your side.

What does Custer recommend for school renovations?

Try before you buy

If you are able to test the products that may be purchased for your school, see if the furniture dealer will let you try them out for awhile. This way you can kick the tires, get feedback from students and staff, and use that input to make a final decision. Just sitting on a chair for a couple minutes doesn’t give you a true representation of how the product will perform for your needs.

Choose the right process

Consider using a purchasing contract rather than going to bid.  There are many purchasing co-ops out there, such as E&I, NIPA, NJPA, etc., which allow you to choose furniture from their awarded vendors and avoid the bid process yet still get a very competitive rate.

If you do go to bid, seek the help of a qualified design firm to assist you.

Invest in quality

Invest in good quality fabric on your upholstered pieces to make sure they will hold up for the amount of time you anticipate using your furniture.

Limit the amount of vendors

Once you award the bid, limit the number of dealers you divide it amongst.  It will pay back in dividends in the years that follow when you want to add more of the same product or have a warranty issue, because it will be that much easier for whoever is in charge of your facilities to track down the right group to contact.

Whether you’re renovating one classroom or a whole school, advice from other school administrators can set you on the right course.

What do experienced administrators say about school renovations? 

Embrace the challenges

Bob Priolo, PE, Director of Campus Services at Cornerstone University: As we just completed about $500k in renovation projects, I can share the importance of communication, onsite coordination meetings, inspecting what you expect, a clear approval process, and leaving margin or contingency for unknowns.  But the most important thing Chris and I have learned these past months is that God is in the chaos.

Problems will happen on renovation projects, so how will you react when they occur? We have a choice: get mad and spend lots of time and energy defending your reputation, or to let that go and embrace the chaos.  Relationships can get stronger during hard times; people work together and go out of their way to make it right.

Over these many years of managing projects I can truly say that it is the process and the people that have enriched my life, even more than the finished product.

Use research & trends

Deb Carnes, Director of Finance and Operations, Sparta Area Schools: I wish we had access to the latest trends in classroom furniture and were aware of how the industry is shifting to meet the ever-changing classroom. Tech integration into the classroom is also changing the learning environments and we want to be aware of how furniture can create an atmosphere that enhances learning.

Don’t go it alone

Kim Kiel, CFO, Jenison Public Schools: We at JPS were fortunate to have access to an outstanding Owner’s Representative for our most recent projects from the initial planning to occupancy and operations.  Don’t go at it alone!  Hire a hard working, honest, advocate to get you through the daily issues so you can stay focused on the job of running your district.

 

Our aim at Custer is to help you prepare for the next step of your school’s journey. Leave a comment below with questions, suggestions, or your response to this advice for school renovations this summer!