Facilities Planning
Carl T. Thurnau, P.E., Coordinator

Latest revision: 12/29/08

Please remember: fax OR Mail - NOT BOTH - can result in multiple entries!

2008 Annual Visual Inspection now up! 12/31/08

Annual Visual Inspections must have been completed by November 15, 2008. Extensions will not be granted for the inspection date. Online submission of the data is required by January 15, 2009.  However, we have experienced technical difficulties with the online reporting system.  The data submission date has been extended to March 15, 2009.

Preliminary reviews: when a district is considering a new building or addition, we strongly suggest submitting a preliminary review to determine maximum cost allowance for the project BEFORE a public referendum.  We have recently received preliminary and final submissions after public approval and determined that the maximum cost allowance differed from the architect's calculations.  Note: this includes bus garage additions!   11/17/08

Woodfired heating system funding opportunity through NYSERDA  10/21/08

QZAB: New funding opportunity for capital projects!!! 9/30/08

Artificial Turf: please see the attached letter to superintendents, advisory from the New York State Health Department and CDC advisory 8/19/08

Change orders: we are running behind in posting change orders on the website, and that we will enter them as time permits. Please do not send in duplicate change orders. Please note that if the the certification form is not stapled to the BACK of the change order, it will be returned to your office!  All portions of the certification must be filled out, without exception.   When submitting change orders for approval, please include any sketches, bulletins, diagrams, etc., that may be referenced in the change order.    11/17/08

New York State Public Schools Capital Construction Projects Final Cost Reports Due June 30, 2008 5/27/08

NY State Health Department Advises Caution in Hot Weather 5/27/08
Hot Weather Emergency Advisory 5/27/08

Roof work and IAQ: fact sheet 5/27/08

Project Review Status: if you have a question about the status of your project awaiting review, please consult our status reports page first.  Upon receipt of your project, your project manager will call you to identify missing items, if necessary.  Upon architectural/mechanical review, our A/Es will do likewise.  Our current review lag is approximately 16 weeks.

Project Review Queue: Please note that project submissions have dramatically increased over the past several months.  Compared with last year, our submissions are up due to EXCEL funding.  Owing to this situation, the review log queue time has substantially increased.  Our best guess at the moment is that for projects received as of 1/1/09, the average review time for final review of plans may be 12-16 weeks.  Please plan your submissions accordingly.

As of 12/29/08 the next architectural review will be 08-0670. It was logged into the review system on 10/30/08.  Project Review 08-0248 will be the next mechanical review.  It was logged into the review system 8/26/08.  The most recent submission has the review number 08-0975.  There are approximately 600 projects currently in the queue awaiting review.

A couple of notes on paperwork for project submissions: when submitting a project for submission, please take special care to make sure that all forms are properly collated and that multi-page forms are stapled together.  We've noticed a large number of submissions with a stack of loose papers clipped together.  Staff here must then collate and staple the forms, a daunting task with large submissions.  For multi-project submissions, we need the full set of paperwork for each project in the submission, not just a "master set" to cover the entire submission.

News you can use!

2008 Annual Visual Inspection now up! 11/14/08 Download your 2007 AVI here > 2007 Annual Visual Inspection Report For questions, please contact Dave Clapp at 518-474-3906

20th annual Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 27-May 3, 2008

EXCEL Aid and Building Aid for gymnasiums. Recently we have received numerous inquiries regarding whether or not EXCEL funding can be used to build new gymnasiums. Please remember that in order to be eligible for EXCEL, a project must first be eligible for normal building aid. Construction costs for new gyms may be building aidable, providing the need can be demonstrated through enrollment projections. For Districts wishing to build a new gymnaium, one gym station is required for each 500 pupils or portion thereof. For reconstruction projects - construction activity associated with an existing gymnasium is generally building aidable. Both new construction and renovation projects are subject to the maximum cost allowance. Once a gymnasium project becomes eligible for building aid, it also becomes eligible for EXCEL funding. Please contact your project manager or consult our Building Aid Guidelines for more information.  2/6/08

Asbestos contamination of art clay due to talc 10/15/07

New York CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools) Final Guidelines (Word) HTML 9/26/07

Recycling: an important district priority.  Please read this letter from the Commissioner 9/14/07

Red Cross Disaster Services Volunteer Training - September 9/14/07

Red Cross Disaster Services Volunteer Training - October 9/14/07

Green Schools Summit - October 15, 200708/22/07 Save the Date08/22/07 Agenda for Green Schools Summit08/22/07

Green Cleaning Final Report - Released 7/27/07

AHERA 2007 AHERA Online Report Form 5/17/07 Letter to Superintendents 5/17/07 The 2007 Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) Triennial Reinspection process (public and nonpublic schools) must be completed by July 9, 2007. The 2007 AHERA Triennial Reinspection report (public schools only) must be submitted via this electronic reporting form by October 1, 2007. AHERA Recordkeeping and Enforcement Reminder of Annual AHERA Notifications to Employees and Parents 2006-2007  11/06/06 AHERA Management Plan Self-Audit Checklist for Designated Persons  11/01/06 AHERA Requirements Reminder  10/23/06

EXCEL (EXpanding our Children’s Education and Learning) Q&A  6/20/06 Updated 8/15/06 Supplemental Q&A - July 2006  9/20/06 Allocations ($$$)  7/10/06

The State of New York Police Juvenile Officers Association is proud to offer a one day workshop entitled: SCHOOL-POLICE PARTNERSHIP: A Legal Roadmap for Solutions on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 6/27/07

Report of Observed Non-Conformances with Fire Code of New York State  6/18/07

Protocol for Addressing Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Caulking Materials in School Buildings 6/18/07

Incident Command System for Schools 6/5/07

Roosevelt Middle School construction information 2/9/07

Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools: The New York State Disaster Preparedness Commission is continuing its comprehensive planning for a potential pandemic. Staff from the State Health and Education Departments and a workgroup made up of county health officials collaborated in the development of a Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools in New York State. Click here for the Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools in New York State. 2/16/07

The following is a link for a safety sign for your vehicle lifts: Lift Safety Tips .  1/17/07.  If you would like a copy, please contact ALI for copies by email at  or through their web page. 1/17/07

You may download a copy of your completed Building Condition Survey here.  The surveys are district-by-district and are in pdf format.  10/3/06

EPA Compliance Workshops  09/18/06

FIRE AND STRUCTURAL SAFETY INSPECTIONS FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS  8/01/06

Emergency Shelters in Schools  6/20/06

National Incident Management System Compliance 5/11/06 (please direct questions on this topic to Laura Sahr at 518-474-3906)

Building Operator Certification Training Program by NYSERDA - Check this Out! 3/14/06

Environmentally Sensitive Cleaning and Maintenance Products 1/30/06

Section 808 of Education Law (Revised July 2005) now requires instruction in injury prevention and life safety education 1/27/06

SED Requirements for Emergency Lighting for Educational (E) Occupancies 1/9/06

From the U.S. Department of Energy: "Easy Ways to Save Energy" - "Energy $avers" 12/29/05

Child Safety-Injury Prevention Website Links  11/30/05

Energy $aving Tips from NYSERDA  11/10/05

High Performance School Design - Online Training Course by NYSERDA   10/21/05

Environmentally Sensitive Cleaning and Maintenance Products in Schools  10/17/05

Statement of Special Inspections  9/13/05

Survey of School District Facilities Directors  7/6/05

Comprehensive Maintenance Plan Template  (Excel)  5/20/05

Please see the following CCA news from the EPA  5/12/05

DEC CCA link 5/12/05

Mercury in Schools - Dept. of Health Brochure  1/13/05

Executive Summary of Five Year Plan Reminder

"Get the Lead Out" - Article by Steve Howe, PE  1/13/05

AHERA Requirement Reminder  3/17/05

Catastrophic Structural Failure - Roof Collapse at Washingtonville CSD  8/23/04
Letter to Superintendents | Pictures

Project Submissions With New Instructional Space: Please Note!  12/30/04

Alert!: Evening Assembly Events  3/4/04

Recall: Package Terminal Air Conditioner/Heat Pumps (PTAC)  10/4/04

State Building Aid Guidelines (html)  07/28/04
State Building Aid Guidelines (Word)  07/28/04

Mercury Q&A for Schools 10/19/04

Important: Fill for Athletic Fields  8/15/03

Dormitory Authority: Building Aid Revenue Bonds Program (School District Refinancing)

Energy Performance Contracts: Important Notice!

Telephone: 518-474-3906
Fax: 518-486-5918 Office of Facilities Planning
Room 1060 Education Building Annex
The New York State Education Department
Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234 For forms or website content, please send e-mail to Curt Miller: hmiller2@mail.NYSED.gov

Send e-mail to Facilities Planning at: emscfp@mail.nysed.gov