Author David Cotts, in The Facility Management Handbook (1999) regarding benchmarking states, “Doing more and being more responsive with fewer resources means that facility managers need to be able to measure work realistically and have better evaluative tools.”
MSBO’s Facilities Benchmarking Survey is one of those tools. For the eighth year, MSBO has conducted this survey. This survey is an important tool for facilities and business managers because you can compare costs and practices of school districts throughout Michigan.
Thank you to all the school districts that participated. As school districts determine where to reduce costs further, it is crucial to understand where you stand in the area of facilities operations. This report can help you compare your district to others around the state; both by size of district and by region. The survey also helps you understand the impact of certain cuts.
MSBO has contracted with Applied Solutions, a Michigan based independent consulting firm, to carry out the study and publish the results for school districts since 1999.
According to Applied Solution’s Robert L. Moles, using benchmarking data, internal goals and objectives are set to match the best results in each category. As each segment of the organization is benchmarked, progress toward those goals is measured and the entire organization benefits.
Moles stresses that the information contained in this report is strictly quantitative, and does not address the quality of maintenance and custodial work in schools. The Facilities Benchmarking Survey numbers represent a starting point, with measurements common to all districts. As you interpret the data presented, certainly it’s important to know your numbers; but the important factor is to understand why there is a difference and then look to strategies that will influence your key areas of concern.
MSBO’s 2007 survey showed that Michigan schools in the area of facilities maintenance and cleaning spend more than a billion dollars annually. That number continues to rise. MSBO members have used the information to:
• Obtain additional funding for maintenance.
• Pass building improvement millage and bond issues.
• Evaluate the question of subcontracting.
• Assist in labor negotiations.
• Improve efficiency in building operations.
MSBO is committed to providing this important information to our members to help you make decisions about the allocations of school dollars in an informed, data-driven basis.
Results from this year’s survey will be released in December.