September 28, 2006

VOLUME PURCHASING STRATEGIES

Think about walking through a “big box” store that carries everything you need in your school and the surrounding schools in your district.  Can you imagine the cost savings you could achieve?  Well think about it in another way.  How about partnering with other schools to increase you buying power and drive deeper discounts?  Volume buying saves money.  Read below to see how some districts are obtaining better pricing through this policy.

by Michael Fickes
 

K-12 schools turn to piggybacking, local, regional and national coops, and any other strategy that can produce volume price cuts, lower administrative costs and faster turnaround.

Jeff Kimball purchases supplies for approximately 160 school districts in Pennsylvania and Maryland. As the cooperative purchasing services manager with the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU), Kimball will spend $400,000 on behalf of 170 organizations, including the 160 school districts during 2004. Goods include computer and copier supplies, paper, cafeteria and custodial supplies, athletic supplies, cellular phones, art supplies, nonperishable foods and just about any other K-12 school supply you can imagine.

Under a program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, CSIU also solicits bids for major lines of computer equipment on behalf of Pennsylvania school districts, other intermediate units, vo-tech schools, approved private schools and state libraries.

Still another CSIU program enables members to purchase new roofs from top national roofing manufacturers, who have re-evaluated their prices to get on the coop’s list.

To read more, click here.
 

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September 27, 2006

First Days in School

How many of us can remember that first day or Kindergarten or Preschool?  I remember my sweaty hand being held and hiding behind my mothers dress.  Even then I did not like to go into places where I was a stranger.  Stop and think about those experiences and how they can shape the way students feel about school for the rest of their lives.
Is that first day a day of bright colors and fun surroundings or a day of bland colors and rigid rules.

by JOHN R. FLYNN

A plan for designing an effective and useful early childhood education center.
 

According to U.S. Office of Education reports, two decades ago, only 10 states were providing pre-kindergarten programs. Currently, it is reported that 39 states and the District of Columbia provide support for pre-k programs. States are contributing about $4 billion to pre-kindergarten and childcare programs. In 2001, states spent in excess of $1.9 billion for more than 765,000 children to attend pre-k. In its publication, The Condition of Education 2004, the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that pre-primary enrollment increased by 20 percent, from 1993 to 2003. It is noted that an important aspect of this increase is the participation of children in full-day programs. In 2003, approximately 56 percent of the children attended full-day programs, compared to 40 percent in 1993.


 The recognition of the positive impact of early childhood programs on the cognitive development of pre-school age children, as well as a variety of social and economic factors, has created public pressure for the availability of pre-kindergarten education programs, not only in urban areas, but in suburban and rural areas as well. The material that follows is intended to provide a conceptual framework on which to develop the general design requirements for an early childhood education center. It is not intended to provide educational specifications for instructional and support spaces, the design of which are situational, in that they should respond to programmatic requirements established by the school district. Compliance with applicable federal, state and local requirements is assumed.

 


To read more, click here.
  

 

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September 26, 2006

School Furniture

Often times when Districts are looking to purchase school furniture, they start and end their search with price.  This can often be a mistake.  Read below to see all the criteria that should be used when selecting the best school furniture to purchase.

By Thomas G. Dolan

There is a lot more than final price to be considered when purchasing furnishings for your schools.

When purchasing school furniture and furnishings, price is certainly an important consideration, but it is far from being the only one. Other factors that have to be taken into consideration are quality, comparison shopping, user preference, vendor reliability, delivery, setup and installation, removal of packing materials and cleanup, maintenance and repair, the bid, the warranty and what to do if the promise you’ve been given is broken. Let’s take a brief look at each of these factors:

To read more, click here:

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September 21, 2006

Furniture: Form and Function

Times are changing, and our ways of furnishing schools will have to change with it if we are to keep up.  Gone are the stationary desks, here are the multifunction spaces and furniture to match. by Jay B. Richards

Thoughtful consideration of both current and future uses will yield effective spaces furnished with serviceable furniture that can be reconfigured for multiple uses

In Ohio, one of the most comprehensive school rebuilding programs in history is underway. Since 1997 more than $4 billion has been spent to rebuild entire school districts. Of the 614 school districts in Ohio’s 88 counties, nearly one-third have now been served by the Ohio School Facilities Commission’s numerous programs. Districts participate with the state of Ohio in the co-funding of their project based on their per-pupil valuation. Those with the less per-pupil valuation contribute less to the total project budget, whereas those districts with the greatest per-pupil valuation contribute the more. In addition to the expected expenses for design and construction of the physical features of the building, the program budget also allows money based on the building’s square footage for supplemental necessities like technology and loose furnishings.

To read more, click here.

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September 05, 2006

One-Stop Shops

Just as in ever other aspect of our lives, we never have enough time to get everything done.  Read how Universities are evolving to provide access to more resources for their students and faculties at the same location... the Student Union.  One Stop Shops talks about how to maximize the space, activities and revenue generated by Student Unions by thinking outside the box in designing and furnishing the spaces.

Aug 1, 2005 12:00 PM
By Kyle Taft

Sipping a latte, sending a batch of instant messages, stopping to pick up cash, scheduling a weekend trek, and later settling in for an evening of music with friends — all within walking distance.

 

A vacation resort? A pedestrian village? Perhaps, but just as likely these activities and many more take place on many university campuses, designed and renovated dramatically to be more student-centered than they were 50 or even 20 years ago.

 

At the heart of this change is a new approach to the student union building. The student union is a highlight when new recruits, families and parents first visit a campus. The union has become an attractive tool for recruiting and retention — for students, faculty and staff.

 To read more, click here.

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September 01, 2006

Seat Work

Remember the "old days" when school desks were wooden chairs with a half desk top attached?  For those who were tall, you could never get your knees under the desk tops, let alone cross your legs.  Read about how matching furniture to function can help students maintain the focus they need to succeed at school.

Feb 1, 2006 12:00 PM
By Mike Kennedy

Educators and school designers place a high priority on creating facilities that enhance learning. That applies not only to how a school is built, but also to the materials and equipment used.

 

Just as acoustical treatments or well-placed windows and skylights can make a classroom more conducive to learning, so can the right furniture. Desks, tables and chairs that improve the educational environment can help students maintain the focus they need to succeed at school.

Yet in many schools, the desks and chairs in a classroom do not match the students that use them. The resulting discomfort and fatigue can prevent students from concentrating on their work and over time can lead to eye strain or injuries to legs, wrists and necks.

To read more, click here.

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Know-How: Ergonomics

The old adage... "one size fits all" does not apply in life.  Not in clothes, not in appetites and most certainly not in school furniture.  Continue reading to see how schools and universities are using ergonomic principles in selecting school furniture.

Apr 1, 2006 12:00 PM
By Mike Kennedy

As students and instructors rely more on computers to complete assignments and teach lessons, having furniture and equipment that allows users to work efficiently and comfortably is a critical component of creating a sound environment for learning.

 

Ergonomically designed furnishings can help users adapt chairs, tables, keyboards and other computer equipment to match their size, shape and individual preferences.

To read more about how the University of California, Los Angeles addresses these needs, click here.

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Beyond the Seat

There is a giant gap between what school furniture should be and what it is.  Experience tells us one thing, but Architects and Designers can help school administrators get the best product for their needs.

Read below to see the important points you should be looking for when buying school furniture.

Mar 1, 2005 12:00 PM
By James E. Rydeen and Kim A. Sorenson

Experience tells us that school furniture:

 

 

  • Is expected to last forever.

  • Is usually selected by school personnel without professional design input.

  • Is selected without regard to color influence.

  • Will receive minimal maintenance during its lifetime.

  • Must be the most cost-effective.

 

Architects specify built-in furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) items as well as some loose furniture. However, most loose furniture is selected by district personnel.

Experienced architects and interior designers already know the products and the manufacturers, and this experience and knowledge can help school officials choose the right product, with the needed features, at the best price, within budget limitations, from a responsible vendor.

To read more, click here.

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Make a Face

I have alway heard that "you do not have a second chance to make a good first impression".  While I always thought this applied to meeting people, I now realize it also applies to potencial students impressions of schools and universities. 

Read below to see how institutions are learning to put their "best face forward".

Feb 1, 2004 12:00 PM
Julie Strahle

“Don't judge a book by its cover” is an old piece of advice that seems ideal in theory. But as colleges and universities compete for top-notch students along with their hefty test scores, an institution's “cover” may determine whether its reputation will shine or be left in the shadows.

A campus' desired identity often fuels the master-planning process for institutions of higher education. Aside from the design itself, the furniture chosen to match an institution's design also can complement its identity. Although it is one of the last things put into place, furniture selection should be considered from the beginning of the master-planning process.

To read more, click here.

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