Webinar: Efficacy in Facilities Planning

What does it really mean for a school facility project to succeed? This webinar, co-sponsored by the National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI) and the National Council on School Facilities, explores the shift from compliance-driven capital planning to outcomes-based decision-making. The conversation centers on pathways for measuring success by whether every student attends a school that supports their learning, health, and well-being, and not just by whether projects finish on time and under budget.

Moderator:
Brandon Payne, Executive Director, National Council on School Facilities

Panelists:
Brian Lemay, Senior Project Manager, Rhode Island Department of Education School Building Authority – Healthy Environments Advance Learning (HEAL)
Rob Olsen, Founder and CEO, Olsen Edvantage
David Sturtz, Founder and CEO, Sturtz & Company

Four Key Takeaways for District and State Leaders

1. Define student-centered outcomes early in the project scoping process. One of the most impactful shifts a district can make is establishing a clear, shared picture of what “success” looks like for students and educators before design and investment decisions are made. When outcome metrics — such as attendance trends, indoor air quality, health indicators, teacher retention, or instructional flexibility — are identified upfront, they can serve as a guide throughout the planning process, making it easier to evaluate investments against goals that go beyond budget and schedule.

2. Lean on data to tell the full story across your portfolio. A consistent, system-wide view of facility conditions and utilization can be a powerful ally for leaders navigating competing priorities and community pressures. When decisions are grounded in objective, portfolio-level data — such as Facility Condition Index scores mapped against enrollment utilization — it becomes much easier to have transparent conversations with school boards, legislatures, and the public about where investment is most needed and why.

3. Explore whether your funding structures are working for your most underserved communities. State and district leaders may find it worthwhile to examine whether current funding formulas — particularly those based solely on average daily attendance — are reaching the districts with the greatest need and the least local bonding capacity. Models that weight funding by community wealth or distribute resources on a per pupil basis have shown promising results. 

4. Cultivate champions at every level. Rhode Island’s success shows that sustained progress requires consistent, long-term champions at the state, legislative, and federal levels — not just a good plan, but institutional continuity and shared aim across administrations over many years.