School craze: masonry gets high marks for quality, but the industry's promotional efforts need improvement

Masonry Construction, Jan, 2005 by Dianna Granitto

Elsewhere, school districts are implementing various strategies.

California -- Elk Grove Unified School District, which is the nation's fastest growing large school district with its enrollment tripling since 1986, plans to open 20 new schools over the next 4 years. The district reuses architectural plans to shave months off the construction schedule.

Virginia -- The Chesapeake City Council voted to seek voluntary cash contributions for school construction projects from developers who want to build new homes in the city. Developers have said they plan to pass on the extra expenses to home owners, which would range from $11,000 to $14,000 per unit.

Nevada -- In Las Vegas, which is often likened to a giant construction site, Clark County School District is trying to keep up with enrollment that has doubled in the past decade to nearly 280,000 students, which is the nation's fifth largest. A $2.5 billion, 10-year bond rollover passed in 1998 calls for 88 new schools, but housing permits and birthrate data indicate that at the end of that period the district still will have insufficient classroom space.

New Jersey -- A 2000 bond issue granting New Jersey Schools Construction Corp. $8.6 billion for construction and renovation will not be enough. At least $5.7 billion has already been committed, while hundreds of facilities wait to be upgraded. Officials fear the money will run out several years before the bond program expires.

Georgia -- Clayton County voters recently approved a 1% special-purpose sales tax expected to add $269 million to the school district's coffers through 2010. The money is earmarked for 6 new schools, additions at 20 others, and capital improvements.

Florida -- Palm Beach County has opened 32 new schools and replaced or renovated 25 schools since 1998. Another 10 schools under construction are due to open in August. A new 1/2% sales tax will fund a 5-year, $1.1 billion program for 14 new schools, 26 replacement schools, and 27 classroom additions.

Pennsylvania -- The "20-year rule" requires that a school be in place for 20 years before the state will make reimbursements for reconstruction and renovations.

Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, CNN, ENR, Las Vegas Mercury, Sacramento Bee, and The Virginian-Pilot

View from the Hot Seat

School superintendents are not construction experts and must rely on many other people when making decisions. They must defend their decisions to the school board, sometimes putting their contracts on the line. For this reason, they will often avoid taking risks when choosing building materials and systems, noted Don Bell, superintendent for Pennsylvania's North Lebanon School District.

As a proponent of masonry, Belt speaks to architects and engineers on the subject and is participating in a promotional program being developed by the National Concrete Masonry Association. He encourages design/construction professionals to play a role in educating the educators.