Managing Education Facilities

Overview

Four Georgian architects and civil engineers were welcomed to the U.S. to take part in the "Managing Education Facilities" International Visitor Leadership Program. The participants participated in a three-week itinerary with appointments that were set to provide an overview of the U.S. system of education and current trends in funding elementary schools, secondary schools, and higher education facilities. The group also explored data-driven fiscal planning methods for the operation and maintenance of educational facilities and examined best practices in the management of school facilities. Meridian's programming team worked closely with the community based members in Louisville, KY; Ithaca, NY; Albany, NY; and Manchester, NH.While in Washington, the group had the opportunity to visit the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. They were also able to take a meet with architects and school officials involved in a major rehabilitation of the DC Public School site, the Marie H. Reed Elementary School. The group then travelled to Louisville, where they met with state government officials and local faculty members to discuss new school facility construction and urban/rural school systems. After their stay in Louisville, the group journeyed to Ithaca and Albany to engage with local school districts and learn more about school maintenance standards and budgetary processes. They then travelled to Manchester for a few finals days of programming to explore existing systems of school administration and finance and study model school laboratories.

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