Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

How Can We Do More With Less?

  • By Amy Kiefer
  • 08/01/11
Lets face it. The current economic climate is challenging on multiple levels. Educational budgets are tighter than ever, oftentimes frozen or no longer even existent within K-12. But with every challenge lies an opportunity. Here are areas for consideration in creating "more with less."

FOCUS -- List and prioritize furnishing needs both for today and into the future. What is the five-year plan? Ten-year plan? How do the plans for furnishings tie to the overall goals and vision for the institution? Rationalize and validate the plan and related prioritization with your stakeholders (stakeholders should include, but not be limited to your faculty, administration, students, parent liaisons and district partners). Input that drives dialogue will allow you more effective, validated decisions for both the short- and long-term.

CALCULATE THE ROI -- Calculate the return on investment (ROI) for those purchases selected (your areas of focus from step 1). Consider both the tangible and intangible value that purchase will drive. Be creative and forward thinking. Include items such as inventory management (flexibility in use), SKU reduction (district standardization), ease of use and repair (JIT maintenance or adjustment), student learning (validation of the institutions' success measures). Although the short-term needs may feel urgent, you're best served to keep focus on the long-term goals and needs of the learning spaces.

CIRCLE BACK -- Ensure the original plan is still warranted, validated by the ROI given the institution's goals and vision. If everything checks out, deploy.

Make no mistake. The goal of achieving more with less is certainly challenging. Especially if less equates to a null budget. But don't throw in the towel. There are too many precious students out there who need improved and optimized learning spaces. Even small, focused gains are better than no change and stagnation.

After all, these are future leaders!

Amy Kiefer is vice president of the Education Market division of KI.

Featured

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.