CODE: 7115R
SECTION: CONSTRUCTION, REMODELING AND RENOVATION
DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS
Educational specifications are written after consultation and study with committees of teachers, administrators, consultants, maintenance technicians, and citizens. Upon completions, specifications are:
1. reviewed by the appropriate faculty members affected by the specifications.
2. presented to the architect.
3. submitted to the State Department of Education, when applicable.
Generally, the content of a set of educational specifications would include all or part of the following items:
1. A statement of the educational philosophy as it pertains to the specific construction project
2. Community and school characteristics
a. What is the plan of organization and expected enrollments of the school?
(1) Grade levels
(2) Maximum expected enrollments with trends and projections, if necessary
b. What is the construction plan for this facility?
(1) Is it to be an addition, complete unit, expandable unit, or a phased program leading to a complete facility?
c. What special services are to be provided?
(1) Guidance programs
(2) Social workers' programs
(3) Provisions for exceptional children
(4) Others
d. What special provisions are needed for community use?
(1) Community recreation programs
(2) Parent-Teacher Associations
(3) Civil Defense
(4) Others
e. To what extent will the adult educational program use this facility? What provisions should be made to implement this program?
f. To what extent will the students be transported and what facilities must be included to handle this service adequately?
g. What cafeteria services are to be provided and what is the maximum number likely to be served?
h. What is the policy regarding multiple use of spaces?
i. What technology needs are required for the functions anticipated in the space?
j. Other pertinent data relating to the project?
3. Site characteristics
a. What site considerations should be made for this project?
(1) Site size and location defined
(2) Recommended building orientation:
(a) Service drives
(b) Parking requirements for staff, students, and public
(c) Sidewalk and other approaches
(d) Outside lighting
4. Requirements of the physical plant
a. What instructional spaces are required?
(1) The elementary school: Each space to be described by
(a) number of spaces required.
(b) floor area needed.
(c) location in respect to other facilities.
(d) activities requiring special type of construction.
(2) The secondary school: a statement of instructional purpose is to precede the description of each specialized area. Each classroom space is identified by
(a) number of spaces required.
(b) floor area needed.
(c) location in respect to other facilities.
(d) special construction requirements for certain facilities (soundproofing, additional ventilation, etc.).
b. What non-instructional spaces are required? (elementary and secondary)
(1) Each space to be identified
( 2) Number of facilities required
(3) Floor area requirements
c. Orientation of spaces
(1) Relationship between instructional and non-instructional spaces
(2) Relationship of spaces to site
(3) Interrelationship between instructional areas
d. Environmental controls
(1) Lighting quantity and quality
(2) Acoustical properties and noise control
(3) Esthetic qualities interior and exterior
(4) Heating and/or cooling
(5) Ventilation
(6) Properties of floor, wall, and ceiling finishes
(7) Color--in certain instances
(8) Safety requirements
5. What additional information or comments are necessary to further interpret the educational program into an efficient school building?
Project Administration
Planning Checklist for the Development of Individual Projects:
1. Determine educational philosophy
2. Determine educational program
3. Identify facility needs
4. Assign priority to each need by school and by total school district
5. Assemble priority needs into a list
6. Visit school and determine extent of work listed
7. Meet with architect, principal, and others at school
8. Select site (if necessary)
9. Program:
a. Site
b. Budget
c. Spaces
d. Equipment
10. Staff revision of education specifications
11. Review revised educational specifications with Superintendent of Schools and consultants
12. Progress report to area supervisors
13. Preliminary drawings
14. Preliminary drawings reviewed by principal and consultants
15. Preliminary drawings reviewed by Central Office staff and Board of Education
16. Preliminary drawings submitted to Building Services, State Department of Education
17. Revise educational and building specifications (staff involvement)
18. Development of working drawings
19. Working drawings reviewed by administration and Board of Education
20. Working drawings submitted to State Department for approval
21. Final approval by School Board
22. Development of final drawings
23. Review and revision of final drawings
24. State Department approval (formal)
25. Contract out for bids
26. Contract preparation
27. Bids received
28. Bids awarded
29. Work start or ground breaking
30. Work completion by 25% intervals
31. Preliminary inspection
32. Project occupied by owner
33. Dedication
34. Final inspection
35. Formal Construction accepted by School Board
First Reading: December 12, 2000
Adopted: December 19, 2000