Building development services honored for professionalism
December 2008
They’re the men and women who remodel and repair our schools, shovel our sidewalks and inspect our playgrounds and athletic fields.
But behind the obvious work performed by the district’s 62 Building Development Services employees is a meticulous operation that assures all 65 district properties on 660 acres are safe and maintained with an eye on efficiency.
The Association of School Business Officials International recognized that commitment recently when it awarded BDS the 2008 Facilities Masters Award.
BDS received the award the first year it applied. “It shows we are spending our dollars as wisely as we can while providing the best possible service to our district,” said interim facilities director, Dave Bishop.
The award specifically singled out BDS’ proficiency in:
- Maintaining current facilities and planning for the future by aligning all efforts with district goals and the strategic plan, SP5.
- Conducting timely building audits to measure the value of aging facilities relative to the cost of replacing them. Audits help project future maintenance costs.
- Ensuring that safety is a major component of all building management.
- Evaluating which efforts are working, which are not working, and developing strategies for improvement through the process of Continuous Quality Improvement.
“It is obvious that Springfield R-12 Public Schools have an inventory of very well maintained facilities,” ASBO officials wrote in announcing the award. “Of particular note is the depth of detail” that assures that quality.
Cost efficiency was a critical part of the department’s success. ASBO officials were impressed with how BDS leveraged community volunteerism last year to provide about $20,000 of in-kind services and materials to clean and paint several school buildings that otherwise would not have been completed.
That effort saved the district about a month’s worth of maintenance cost, noted Leslie Ballew, who heads quality assurance in the department. Leslie accepted the award for the district during the ASBO National Conference Nov. 10 in Denver.