Winter Break Facilities Things To Do

The first half of the school year is almost over and you will be departing from the campus for Christmas and other holiday celebrations during the Winter Break. So before leaving your school for an extended time, here are a few items we suggest to be implemented.

• Set goals for upcoming summer projects.
  • Set a deadline for the community to know that the summer fills up quickly with facility modification and maintenance projects, so no further projects can be submitted after a certain date; this includes large furniture and technology shipments that will require facilities support.
• Send a facilities service survey to the campus to solicit feedback and ideas for needs to be met regularly.
• Set goals for procedures that need to be updated to be implemented at beginning of new budget year.
  • Communicate these changes with the community now and solicit feedback.
  • If service changes will result from budget reductions at beginning of new budget year, begin the expectation communication strategy now.
• Complete a mid-budget year job review with facilities staff to learn of workload, communication, and relations with the campus.
• Solicit who will be on campus during the holiday closure; forward to department leaders to ensure they know.
• Confirm who among facilities staff will be in town and on call for emergencies during the closure.
• Turn off all personal heaters, refrigerators, lights, and setback thermostats and lock all doors before leaving for holiday.
• Confirm who is feeding the fish aquarium, reptile, etc. while closed.
• Stop the post office and regular shipping services from making deliveries during closure.
• Schedule a simple gift exchange or game play for departments to do together.
• Create or update the procedure for ice melting and snow removal; include maps of what areas are maintained so occupants know how to use those building exits and paths during those times.
• Ensure there is a focused facilities financial need presentation on the state of facilities that includes the Director of Facilities to the Finance Committee.