Page 9 - School Planning & Management, April 2018

MAINTENANCE&OPERATIONS| JOHN A. BAILEY, PH.D. An Endorsement
THE BENEFITS OF A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL PLANT MANAGERS.
THE NATIONAL SCHOOL PLANT Management Association is mov- ing forward with a plan to create a comprehensive national certification program for school plant managers across the country. Many state associations such as New Jersey, Arkansas, and Florida already have varied required training and certification programs
that enhance their state’s education and school plant staff. Several states have a range of procedures and training but no compulsory certification program as a prerequisite for employment. The need exists to ensure all school plants administrators have a general knowledge of basic facility maintenance so they can appropriately lead a school division’s maintenance department.
There can be much said in support of a comprehensive national certification program that accents the knowledge and skills any school plant manager should need, regardless of where the facility they manage is located. A national and unified certification rogram should not replace what individual states have in place for their im- mediate needs for training and endorsements.
States.” The NSPMA is currently forming a steering committee and hopes to release more information about the program at their Febru- ary 2019 expo and trade show in Baton Rouge, La.
A set of measurable standards is being formulated and will be presented to the United States Department of Education for guid- ance and support. The NSPMA also plans to outreach to the United States Department of Defense. It is the intent to support military career switchers. Those that have attained the proven training and
A national program will offer additional
opportunities and add credence to what the
states and localities already provide. Once
a national certification is attained, school
facilities managers will have the opportunity
to earn continuing education credits at the
NSPMA annual conference. The annual con-
ference will also offer the opportunity to col-
laborate with other facility managers across the country. Knowledge is power and education is essential to providing the necessary tools to have the most competent administrators handling the operations of school divisions around the country.
It is the mission of the National School Plant Management As- sociation to work in collaboration with school divisions across the United States to promote efficient, adequate, and functional school buildings. Kim Keener, 2017-2018 National School Plant Manage- ment president states, “The National School Plant Management Association is committed to delivering a National Certification Pro- gram that is valuable to all members and key stakeholders to meet the professional and educational needs of directors, supervisors, and managers of buildings and grounds for school systems in the United
An added level of support, training, and service will promote years of future leadership in the school facilities realm.
skills through their military service would be ideal candidates for this type of certification. Military service personnel could apply that experience to help them complete the certi- fication if choosing to seek a second career
in facility management in a school division. Some of the mechanical and work experi- ences will easily transition into a K-12 school facilities environment. Once the military
service personnel achieve a national certification it will make them more viable and prepared to work in a school setting.
An added level of support, training, and service will promote years of future leadership in the school facilities realm. Mike Mertens, the assistant executive director of the Arkansas Associa- tion of Educational administrators states, “While a number of states have quality certification programs for school plant manag- ers, a national training program developed by the NSPMA would build on those individual state efforts by enhancing professional development activities specifically designed for the maintenance and care of school buildings and grounds.” There is no better investment than our children and the environments in which they learn and play in. SPM
>>John A. Bailey, Ph.D. is the director of school plants for Chesapeake Public Schools, in Chesapeake, Va., the National School Plant Management Asso- ciation past president, and the Virginia School Plant Management Association president, and the NSPMA 2017 National School Plant Manager of the Year. He may be reached at john.bailey@cpschools.com.
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