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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007 3

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©Copyright 2007. School Plant Officials of B.C.All rights reserved. The contents of this publica-tion may not be reproduced by any means, inwhole or in part, without the prior written con-sent of the publisher.

While every effort has been made to ensure theaccuracy of the information contained in andthe reliability of the source, the publisher in noway guarantees nor warrants the informationand is not responsible for errors, omissions orstatements made by advertisers. Opinions andrecommendations made by contributors oradvertisers are not necessarily those of the pub-lisher, its directors, officers or employees.

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Mission Statement:To provide support and recognition to our members who work in partnership

with leaders in education in the province of British Columbia.

C O N T E N T SPresident’s Message ~ John Garossino 4

A Peaceful Lake Deep in the Forest of Interior British Columbia ~ Chuck Morris 5

SPOA B.C.’s Historian ~ Says We’re Moving In The Right Direction

~ Dawn M. Barker, Prairie Visions Design Ltd. 6

Is It Time To Renew Your School Plant Officials Certification? 8

Anecdotes of SPOA BC ~ Jack Hannan 9

Capital Funding: Developing A Successful Strategic Plan

~ Hugh Skinner, Associate, Stantec Consulting Ltd. 10

The Impact of Declining Enrollment: Boards Look At Options For Vacant Schools

~ Melanie Jackson 12

In Search of...A Better Insulated Steel Framed Wall 14

BCSDSTA Message 14

Abbortsford Middle School ~ Ryan Huston, MAIBC, Craven / Huston / Powers Associates 16

Water Damage, Beyond the Obvious ~ Canstar Restorations 18

Sooke School District No. 62 Just Got Greener ~ Honeywell 22

Thoughts On Talent ~ Chuck Morris 23

Innovative B.C. School District Chooses Innovative Roofing Solution 24

2007 SPOA Conference Information 28

Clean With CRI-Certified Carpet Extractors 36

MJM Acoustics: A Western Canadian-Based Supplier of Acoustical Products

and Services Designed With Your Facility In Mind ~ Mike Maxwell 38

Drying Out ~ Don Proctor, Munters Inc. Moisture Control Services 40

Condensing Boilers in Retrofit Applications ~ Kevin Woolley – Cannepp 41

Janitors’ Warehouse Moves Into The Alberta Market 42

The Cost of Green ~ Seven Steps To Cost-Effective High Performance Design

~ Witmar Abele – KMBR Architects 43

Green Dreams – Green Roofs on Schools ~ Ron Schwenger 46

Index to Advertisers 50

As this year is passing, I realize just how impor-tant friendships and networks are in the profes-sional world, and how the balance between per-sonal life and business must be maintained toensure you are growing within both your pro-fession and your personal life at a pace that willkeep you competitive, informed and fulfilled. Ihave seen how the involvement with SPOA hasassisted members in expanding their horizons,and provided a vehicle for member educationand networking that is second-to-none; I amproud to be a part of this association.

This past year has brought a lot of positivesfor our association. Your executive went toVictoria in November, and made a presentationto the Deputy Minister and the AssociateDeputy Minister, in order to bring the Ministryup to speed on the changes that have happenedwithin our association over the past five years.The Ministry received the presentation in a verypositive manner and commented on how SPOAis seen to be a positive and valued partner ineducation.

Your executive also met with the BritishColumbia Institute in November, who repre-sents the PMAC in the Province of BC. Our dis-cussions centered on ensuring they were awareof our annual conference and trade show, andextended an invitation to their members toattend the conference. I look forward to the pos-sibility of seeing more purchasing managersfrom school districts across the province start toattend our annual conference and trade show.

In December, members of the education com-mittee and some of the executive also met towork on completing the standards and practicesmanual for the association. It looks very positivethat we will have the SPOA Standards and

Procedures Manual ready for distribution beforethe 43rd annual conference and trade show thisJune. This has come about primarily through theefforts of Kelly Gahir and Ernie Lambert bothof which sit on the education committee.

Kelly and Ernie are presently looking forsomeone to assist them on the education com-mittee. If you are interested in getting involvedand being a part of an exciting and challengingcommittee, please contact one of the SPOAexecutive.

January brought on further opportunities topromote our association with other associations.Members of your executive made a presentationto F.I.S.A. (Federation of Independent SchoolsAssociation) in January promoting our associa-tion. At this presentation, an open invitation wasextended to the members of FISA to have theirFacilities Managers and Facilities Supervisorsbecome involved in both our association andour annual conference. With this invitationcomes the hope of attracting new members toour association, which will assist in expandingthe working networks of our membership.

Kelly Gahir, Director of Marketing andEducation, and I attended a meeting withSPOSA in February to work on promoting andadvancing our Joint Certification Program.Discussed in this meeting was the need for cer-tified members to maintain their certificationand to keep their certification current by provid-ing proof of continuing educational credits asper certification program requirements. Themembers from SPOSA commented on how pos-itive the meeting went, and how they are look-ing forward to working with SPOA BC to getthe CEFM designation professional status.During this meeting, both associations agreed to

4 School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE JOHN GAROSSINO

S.P.O.A.S.P.O.A.

British Columbia

Adon T. RiggMarket ManagerBritish Columbia

JohnsonDiversey Canada Inc.2401 Bristol CircleOakville, Ontario L6H 6P1Tel: 800 568 7171 VMB 8379Cell: 604 787 2869Fax: 604 820 [email protected]

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ensure the program is maintained in an iden-tical fashion in both provinces, to assist in theapplication for professional status.

March started with a bang, as the execu-tive of SPOA were invited by the BCSDSTAto attend a meeting with the BC SchoolDistrict Secretary Treasurers Association andthe Association of School TransportationSupervisors of BC, to exchange informationand explore joint professional developmentopportunities. This meeting produced a posi-tive working environment which could leadto a joint association educational sessionsometime in the late fall. All three associa-tions have agreed to further discussions inthe near future.

April and May will bring about manymore opportunities to promote SPOA withour partners in education and other associa-tions. Glenn Millar of Victoria SchoolDistrict will represent SPOA at the BCSchool Trustees Association’s (BCSSTA)Annual meetings in Victoria this April, andwe will have representation at the ASTSBCconference, the SPOSA conference and theBCSDSTA conference in May.

On the SPOA conference front, GrantDavidson (who accepted the Conference

Director Chair in June) has worked exten-sively with the conference committee (whichincluded Glenn Brenan, Speakers Director,and Pat Zino, Exhibitors Director), to puttogether one of the finest educational pro-grams and trade shows to date. It is noted thatthis year’s trade show sold out quicker thanin any previous year. This shows the everincreasing level of support our exhibitorsprovide to this association and our member-ship.

Also included in the conference planningcommittee were Ken Emmons, president ofBCSSA, and Jim Micklejohn, Director ofCEFPI (with special mention going toKendall Jessiman, President of CEFPI, BCChapter). The partners for this year’s confer-ence include the BC School SafetyAssociation and the Council for EducationalFacility Planners International (BC Chapter).

On the sponsorship front, Jim Garfield hassecured two main sponsors for the upcomingconference, and is presently working with anumber of companies who have expressedinterest in sponsoring different eventsthroughout this year’s conference and tradeshow. Jim’s efforts have made it possible forour conference committee to bring in quality

speakers and programs for the benefit of ourmembers. We are pleased to have both BCHYDRO and TELUS joint us as CorporateSponsors for this year’s conference.

Both Lisa Johnston and Chuck Morrishave worked endlessly this year promotingthis association and keeping me on thestraight and narrow. For this I am eternallygrateful.

On another note, the SPOA bursary com-mittee is hoping to receive a record numberof bursary applications for this year’s bur-saries, so please pass on the word to all ofyour staff who have children graduating thisyear.

I feel I have been blessed to be a part ofthis year’s executive, and I am pleased withthe advancements the association has madeon the members’ behalf over the past year. Itis only with the assistance and support of themembers that our association prospers.

I would like to thank everyone for theirsupport this past year.

Yours in service,John GarossinoPresidentSchool Plant Officials Association ❏


COVER PHOTO:A PEACEFUL LAKE DEEP IN THE FORESTOF INTERIOR BRITISH COLUMBIA

TThroughout British Columbia, we run acrosssuch breathtaking beauty. From the Canyonsnear Telegraph, to the desert around thesouth Okanogan and the rain forests ofVancouver Island, each discovery isabsolutely awesome.

The quiet lake featured on the cover isnestled in amongst fir, pine and spruce, usu-ally only frequented by moose and beaver; itis a prize to treasure when it suddenlyappears in front of you. Usually a glimpse ofshimmering water alerts you that somethingis ahead of you and you may see some wildlife.

Our Province holds thousands upon thou-sands of small lakes nestled in the forest andeach of them is a gem. If you are back anumber of miles into the wilderness, you arelikely viewing something not many others

has seen before. What a treat to stumbleacross one of these treasures in such pristinestate. The right time of day may even pro-vide you with early morning light or the huesthe sun provides as sunset approaches.

Enjoy our wilderness and leave it as youfound it (or in better condition). ❏

We welcome your comments and feedback.If you have an idea for a story or profile in an

up-coming edition, please send it to:[email protected]

Please include the name of the magazine or association in your email header or

subject line.

We look forward tohearing from you.


SPOA B.C.’SHISTORIAN

Bob Hardy has seen a lot of changes in his years of involvement withthe education system, and he says he’s confident that these changeshave moved the School Plant Officials Association, as well as B.C.schools themselves, in a positive direction.

When he first embarked on his career, Bob had no idea he’d end upworking in the educational field, but when his job at Pacific CoastPackers came to an end and an opportunity arose at Vancouver’sLangara Campus, he applied. The new position had many challenges,but after seven years, Bob had met them and decided to move on.

His next step was to Supervisor of Operations with South CaribooSchool District #30 in Ashcroft. Here, he spent 11 years reinforcingthe existing school maintenance program, with responsibilitiesincluding staffing, supervision, program development and manage-

ment of building maintenance, custodial and transportation servicesfor the district’s 11 schools.

When the school district was restructured, Bob’s job there ended,and he took on what was supposed to be a three-week temp positionwith Fraser-Cascade District #78 – and ended up staying for over adecade! He took the eight-school district through a thoroughimprovement program including maintenance administration,staffing requirements, and a five year capital program.

In 1997, Bob saw a familiar scene, as his position was again elim-inated through the amalgamation process.

“I was 58, and was seriously considering taking a severance pack-age and retiring, but wasn’t sure I was ready to,” he said.

It would appear that the educational system certainly wasn’t ready

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for him to retire – he was approached veryquickly by the president of the School PlantOfficials Association, who encouraged himto apply for Manager of Facilities in theHaida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte SchoolDistrict #50 in Queen Charlotte, BC.

“I had an interview, and wasn’t sure Iwanted to take the position. I remembercoming home and my wife Linda said, ‘Youdon’t want to do this, do you?’ I said, ‘No, Idon’t think so….’“And she looked at me and said, ‘You got it,didn’t you?’, and I said, ‘Yes.’”

Going into what would prove to be themost challenging segment of his involve-ment with the education system, Bob wasprepared to spend two to three years at theposition, living in a teacherage on QueenCharlotte Island and shuttling back and forthfrom home every four to five weeks. Heretired in 2001 after two years and fourmonths, leaving the entire district on a muchimproved and more stable footing.

Buildings which had been neglected foryears saw new ventilation systems, upgrad-ing to current standards and the repair ofprevious, poorly done work.

From roofs to underground oil tankremoval, from asbestos surveys to sandingand refinishing gym floors, Bob saw everyneed and did his best to fill it. Fire sprinklersystems, upgraded floors, installation of newplayground equipment and the developmentof a capital program were also on his list.Bob even made presentations to the Ministryof School Finance and Capital Planning forthe replacement of Queen CharlotteSecondary School in 1998.

It wasn’t the only time Bob was in contactwith the ministry of Education – he repeat-edly applied for emergency funding to con-tinue on with his numerous essential proj-ects.

“It got so that I’d call up and they’d say,‘What do you need money for now, Bob?’”,he smiled.

“I ended up with a series of binders, withphotos on ‘what not to do’. Those were the‘before’ photos,” Bob explained. Thesecame in handy when he met with school,district and ministry officials to show themhow things had changed in just a short time.

“I just wanted to create the best environ-ment for people to work in,” he said mod-estly of the considerable changes he hasmade over the years.

The Teacher’s Association presidentwrote Bob a letter of appreciation for whathe’d done in the district, a rare and much

appreciated occurrence. He retired in 2001for health reasons.

Today, Bob spends his time golfing, gar-dening, and volunteering on the CedarHeights Community Association as presi-dent.

Bob still hasn’t left his affinity for theeducational system behind, though - he con-tinues to volunteer on the School PlantOfficials Association as historian, a positionwhere his years of expertise are invaluablein assisting the Executive of the Association

when needed.“I look at my time in school maintenance

as having left things a little better than theywere when I came. I left knowing that thereare great people in charge now, who willkeep on with these improvements. And Iknow that there have been a lot of changes inthe Association as well. It has gone forwarda great deal since I began there in 1977. It’sdone some excellent work, and continues todo so.”

❏


IS IT TIME TO RENEW YOUR SCHOOL PLANTOFFICIALS CERTIFICATION?

Written by John GarossinoIIn 2003, the School Plant Officials Certification program was firstoffered to the members of both SPOSA and SPOA in the provincesof Alberta and BC.

The School Plant Officials Certification Program reflects a dedi-cation to setting the highest standards for professionals in the man-agement, maintenance and operation of educational buildings inCanada. The program is a joint venture between the School PlantOfficials’ Society of Alberta and the School Plant Officials’Association of British Columbia.

The intent of this certification program is to advance the educa-tional facility maintenance and operations practice through thedevelopment and implementation of a valid, credible, and reliablecertification system based upon a sound structure and quality stan-dards. Industry needs will be met by establishing benchmarks forknowledge, performance, and professionalism. The certification pro-gram establishes identifiable career paths and promotes the develop-ment of a future workforce that can assure the continued growth ofthis practice.

To ensure the highest degree of professionalism and competency,all certified professionals must take a minimum number of continu-ing education units (CEUs) to maintain their certification. Thisrequirement ensures certified practitioners always possess the mostup-to-date knowledge and stay current in their skills and knowledge.Certification constitutes recognition by both organizations that, to itsbest knowledge, an applicant meets the minimum educational, expe-rience, and ethical standards adopted by both organizations.

Continuing Education is required to help ensure that individualscertified by this program continue to be knowledgeable of techno-logical advancements and regulatory requirements in the schoolplant management fields. Continuing education enhances the opera-tion, maintenance and management skills of the certificate holders,and ensures the quality of school plant management. This ultimatelyincreases the ability and confidence of certificate holders and thecredibility of the educational facility management professions certi-fied by this program.

The School Plant Officials Certification Program recognizes thatto maintain competency, members would need to attain a minimumof 12 continuing education credits per year. Both SPOSA and SPOAof BC realized that to renew a member’s certification every yearwould be burdensome for both the individuals and the associations,but a mechanism needed to be put in place to ensure the integrity andprofessionalism of the program was upheld. Hence the requirementwas developed for members to renew their certification by applica-tion. Renewal of certification is required for all classifications everythree years.

Certificate holders are obligated to provide documentation of the36 CEUs (12 per year) required with their application for certificaterenewal. The CEUs must address the essential duties of the vocationand level of the certificate held. The essential duties are a list of jobtasks that are covered on the certification tests. The essential dutiesfor each certificate are available in the Certification Handbook.

Remember, any training or educational activity will be acceptableas long as it is related to at least one of the core competencies. Youmay even apply your CEUs to more than one certificate as long asthe training program focuses on some of the Essential Duties of eachvocation.

If you have not received an application for renewal of certifica-tion, a continuing education unit’s documentation form or a renewalnotice, please contact Molly Shipowick, SPOA of BC or Ken Fate,SPOSA. Contact numbers can be found on both associations’ webpages.

❏

The certification program establishesidentifiable career paths and pro-motes the development of a futureworkforce that can assure the contin-ued growth of this practice.

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Anecdotes of SPOA BCWritten by Jack Hannan

IIn your last issue, Art Vanidour was absolutely right: Jim Thorpe wasthe granddaddy of this organization. Besides being into this associa-tion, I had one other thing in common with Jim: we both had beenradio hams. With me, this had grown into a Wireless Operator’s cer-tificate – in those days “Wireless” meant Morse code at thirty wordsa minute. It got me a depression-time job in a fish plant on the westcoast of Vancouver Island, later with government wireless at PointGrey, then a year at Dease Lake.

The gang up there thought I was nuts, quitting a good job to go touniversity. In my final year at UBC I remember the Dean saying“most of you boys will go east, but you will come back.” He wasright, after ten years in Montreal I was back, this time working forDon Sutherland at the Vancouver School Board. When Jim Thorpecame over from Nanaimo with a bee in his bonnet about a schoolplant group, Don was sold on the idea but he didn’t come to meetings;instead he prodded Ken Warner and me to get involved. We didn’tneed any prodding, and with Don’s initial backing, Ken and I enthu-siastically participated in the activities of the Association on and offfor over twenty years, serving at times as members of the executive;each of us even took a turn as President.

Our friends, the suppliersAt that first formal meeting at the Blue Boy Hotel, Jim Wilkie wasPresident and I was Secretary Treasurer. We organized a meeting that

Saturday morning at a Vancouver secondary school with suppliersparticipating. It was the beginning of the “portables” era; we had oneoutfit putting up sections of a portable on the blacktop, another crowdwas demonstrating their grass cutting equipment, and others wereindoors finishing and cleaning floors. As this drew to a close, I toldthese suppliers it had been a successful day, one of them called out“what about the money?” I was dumbfounded; I hadn’t planned topay these guys for their efforts. I didn’t realize they were asking howmuch they owed us for the use of our premises! This misapprehen-sion was corrected when the SPOA moved up to Prince George thenext year, and the suppliers paid rent for booth space.

It doesn’t always work as plannedTwo incidents of this come to memory: In 1967, Jim Thorpe was theup-coming President. He asked me if I would be the final speaker ona panel of three dealing with fire safety. He remarked that in the bestconventions, speakers publish their material ahead of time, so that atthe meeting there is a discussion with the audience rather than a lec-ture. I dutifully wrote up my ideas and everyone had them to readbeforehand.

BUT the first of the three men used up all of the time. His presen-tation was attractive, exciting, and sometimes funny; it seems he musthave had a drop of fire-water to help the subject of fire safety. Jimthanked this speaker for his “spirited” presentation and we adjournedfor lunch. My paper never was discussed.

In 1971, I was President; my summary of the meeting reads in part:“The conference itself went along like clockwork……I had empha-sized that the technical program was the heart of the Conference, andour speakers were successful………….”BUT “The Association’s business meeting on the Friday afternoonwas a disaster. One member seemed determined to filibuster through-out the meeting and the membership, tired from sitting through threedays of lectures, were frustrated. Robert’s Rules of Order were aban-doned, I railroaded through what I guessed the members wanted, andwe left for a much-needed drink.”

❏

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CAPITAL FUNDING:DEVELOPING A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIC PLAN

By Hugh Skinner, Associate, Stantec Consulting Ltd.; CEFPI International Past President

TThe capital funding environment is rapidlychanging for school districts in BritishColumbia. Traditional capital funding mecha-nisms and strategies are becoming less suc-cessful. This is partially due to changingdemographics and service needs related to theintensifying demand for capital funds fromother ministries in the provincial government,and the limited availability of capital fundsfrom traditional sources. While the issuesassociated with securing capital funding fromthe provincial government are challenging,there are strategies that are proving successfulin obtaining funds for major capital projectsfor school districts.

TRADITIONAL CAPITAL FUNDINGBritish Columbia was experiencing a grow-ing enrolment throughout most of theprovince in the 1990s. A growing enrolmentenabled the Ministry of Education to have astrong rationale for additional capital fundingfrom Treasury Board. School districts had agood chance of securing funding for newspace if they had an accurate enrolment,capacity, and utilization database as well asthe other key components of a successfulapplication, significant overcrowding and agrowing enrolment.

DEMOGRAPHIC REALITIESHistoric Population TrendsThe school age population (ages 5 to 19years) increased by 134,000 in the 1990s,from 653,000 in 1990 to 787,000 in 2000.The increase in enrolment was due to severalfactors, including: (a.) relatively high in-migration to British Columbia from otherprovinces; (b.) relatively high immigration toBritish Columbia from other countries; and(c.) a relatively high age cohort of children ofthe “Baby Boom” generation working theirway through the school system.

Existing and Projected Population TrendsThe age 5 to 19 cohort population peaked at791,000 in 2001, and has been steadilydeclining since this date. This age cohort isprojected by BC Stats to decline by 2013 to715,000, a decrease of 76,000. The provinceof British Columbia is approximately half

way through this cycle.It is the demographics of the 65 year and

older age cohort that is dramatically growingin demands for increases in services and asso-ciated facilities. This age cohort increasedfrom 416,000 in 1990 to 603,000 in 2006.The 65 and older age cohort is projected tosurpass the school age (ages 5 to 19) agecohort by 2012 and reach the 1,000,000 markby 2020 or shortly thereafter.

These demographic trends are shown inthe chart on the next page.

CAPITAL FUNDING CHALLENGESThe challenges for the Ministry of Educationto secure additional capital funding fromTreasury Board are daunting. Firstly, the debtfrom borrowing for the major capital schoolprojects in the 1990s is very significant.Secondly, the province has made a significantpolitical decision to focus on transportationinfrastructure improvements. Thirdly, thehealth facilities requirements, as illustrated inthe demographic discussion, are massive.Fourthly, a declining enrolment means thatthere is a significant questioning of the num-ber of school facilities required for the future.Collectively, these variables created a majorcapital funding challenge for the Ministry ofEducation and school districts relative toother public service facility demands.

CAPITAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIESThe greatest single potential sources of addi-tional capital funding are the land assets thatschool districts possess. The school facility

land assets in British Columbia are potential-ly worth billions of dollars. With decliningenrolments, many schools are underutilized.Coupled with declining enrolments andunderutilization are facilities that are near, orbeyond, the end of their life-cycle. The singlebiggest hindrance to reusing surplus facilitiesand their associated lands is the negative per-ceptions of the process associated with poten-tial school closure.

SUCCESSFUL STRATEGICPLANNINGA successful strategic plan for securing addi-tional capital funding commences with accu-rate data of lands, facilities, and enrolments.Without an accurate database, the quality andaccuracy of the information will be ques-tioned.

Secondly, a school district should have thecapabilities to develop short term, mediumterm, and long term enrolment projections byschool, by grade and by educational programusing a commonly accepted and understoodenrolment projection methodology.

Thirdly, a school district should developsome District goals and objectives. Thesegoals and objectives may range from finan-cial (e.g. sustaining existing educational serv-ices) to educational (e.g. increasing educa-tional programming opportunities) to facili-ties (i.e. revitalizing existing facilities).

Fourthly, a school district should develop apublic communication and consultationprocess to educate a variety of stakeholderson historical and projected enrolment trends

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relative to the age, condition, and number of school facilities. The rel-evant stakeholders may range from internal (Senior Administration,Board trustees, principals, teachers, parents, etc.) to external (munici-pality, media, general public, etc.). The public consultation processshould exhibit historical and projected enrolments and the tangibleimpact on educational programs and facilities. A public consultationprocess can also offer an opportunity for stakeholders to identify com-munity shortages of non-educational services and facilities (e.g. seniorshousing) and to suggest opportunities. The outcomes from a publicconsultation process can be shared in a format that matches the issueswith the opportunities. These opportunities can also be educational.The Province of Saskatchewan, for example, has very successfullyintegrated discussion on declining school age enrolments, and surplusspace in secondary schools, with a growing demand for post-secondaryeducational programs and space in communities. There are a numberof examples of Saskatchewan facilities that were historically secondaryschools, which have been extensively renovated to become integratedsecondary school / community college facilities.

The culmination of the above process is the identification of surplus

school facilities as they relateto the District’s goals andobjectives, and a matchingwith the community short-ages. A school district canthen constructively create aschool facilities renewalstrategy with a potentialsource of capital funding andthe creation of an additionalnon-educational asset for thecommunity.

SUMMARY ANDCONCLUSIONSCapital funding is becomingscarce for school districts,partially due to changingdemographics and serviceneeds related to the intensify-ing demand for capital fundsfrom other ministries in the

provincial government and the limited availability of capital fundsfrom traditional sources. While the issues associated with securing cap-ital funding from the provincial government are challenging, there arestrategies that are proving successful in obtaining funds for major cap-ital projects for school districts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Over the past 25 plus years, Hugh has developed an encompassinginternational Facilities and Community Planning career, spanningCanada and the United States. His recent experience includes projectmanagement and facilities planning on both private and public sectorprojects in the corporate, city, federal, health, and education sectors.

His main areas of expertise include demographic projections, pro-gramming, building condition assessments and integrating these com-ponents into long range facilities planning, capital asset management,space and program planning. Hugh has become very involved in thecreation of new and renovated facilities and their designs that better fitchanging demographic and programming needs, as well as the creativere-use of surplus facilities. ❏


British Columbia - Historical and Projected Population by Age Grouping

(in thousands)

653666

684701

723

763777 783 785 787 791 788 781 775 769

759 751 759

789

820

851

883

916

950

987

725720715712710711713

743 745738

724 715731 719

620603

587574

562550

540529

519509

499487

475

729

699

639658

677

463451

440429

416

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Year

En

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en

t

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and vandal-proof screens.


AA school is a living, breathing fount of activ-ity. Children stream through doors and downits hallways; they clamber across its fieldsand over its playground equipment.

That’s probably why a vacant school, withboarded up windows, rusting equipment, andovergrown baseball diamonds, is such adepressing sight. “It suggests that a commu-nity has no vibrancy, that it’s dying,” saysGordon Comeau, chair of SD #58 (Nicola-Similkameen).

With student enrollment on the decline,more and specters of vacant schools couldhaunt our neighbourhoods. However, withforesight, school boards can keep schoolsalive and breathing - by opening them tocommunity use.

This is the solution Comeau’s district hasfound, answering what he sees as two objec-tives in dealing with closed schools: “taking

away the poor aesthetics of a vacant building,and providing opportunities for communitygroups such as seniors, performing arts, andmany more.”

Riverside School is now RiversideWellness Centre, thanks to a grant obtainedthrough Community Connections, the $10million program managed by BCSTA and the

The cost ofkeeping a

school emptyThere’s a price tag to letting a school govacant, warns Gordon Comeau of SD#58 (Nicola-Similkameen). To whit:

• You have to maintain a facility at a cer-tain level to prevent it from decaying.

• You have to board up the windows,turning a once-appealing school into aneyesore – and attracting vandals to dodamage. After all, they figure, no one’saround to stop them.

• The boarded-up look also attracts bur-glars, for the same reason.

• You have to keep up the playgroundequipment, because children will con-tinue to use it. If an accident resultsfrom neglected equipment, your districtwill become vulnerable to a liabilitysuit.

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The Impact of Declining Enrollment:Boards look at options for vacant schools

Written by Melanie Jackson, Writer/Editor for the BC School Trustees Association


the Ministry of Education “to make greater utilization of school facil-ities for broader community purposes” (www.schoolconnections.ca).Riverside was in fact the first facility in BC to apply for the grant,Comeau notes proudly.

“We’re obligated as school trustees, as representatives of our com-munities, to maximize opportunities for those communities,” he says.“You don’t have to look far for people to keep a school alive. Whenone becomes vacant, there’s usually a multitude of people showinginterest.”

He cites another example: Tulameen School, whose 100th anniver-sary was celebrated by a barbecue attended by grads from far andwide. The barbecue also served as a farewell, since Tulameen wasclosed - but a farewell to Tulameen as a school, not as a living build-ing. There are plans to preserve it as a heritage site, and again may beused as an active community facility.

Steve Jackson, director of operations in SD #6 (Rocky Mountain),says, “The foresight of our trustees to close schools when decliningenrollment started to affect us back in 2002 has reduced the financialimpact of the lost enrollment. We have sold and leased some of theclosed schools, which means we are not spending funding maintain-ing these schools - which in turn allows us to redirect that money forthe benefit of all students.”

Jackson gives the example of Radium Elementary School, whichRocky Mountain closed, then leased to Parks Canada. “They’ve amal-gamated the separate offices they used to have for Yoho, Banff andRadium Parks, and are operating out of the former school. Throughthe lease agreement with Parks, funds have been provided to make

many renovations and improvements to the facility. With Parks occu-pying the facility, they will cover most of the ongoing maintenancecosts, and if we ever need the school in the future, they will move out,allowing us to once again operate an elementary school in Radium.”

Meanwhile, the Village of Radium Hot Springs has also entered anagreement with Rocky Mountain, to make community use of the gymand sports field at Radium Elementary. In turn, the Village providesthe ongoing maintenance for the gym and sports field.

Other SD #6 buildings have been sold to community groups andchurch groups, and even exchanged with the Royal CanadianMountain Police for one of its buildings.

“The continued decline of students throughout our district hasallowed us to provide space in our open schools for early childhoodand after-school programs,” Jackson says.

Al Cumbers, director of operations in SD #23 (Central Okanagan),says his district hasn’t been as hard hit so far by declining enrollment.Central Okanagan is down by 200 students this year – but the bur-geoning suburbs are producing more kids.

The result? Inner-city schools are emptying to some extent, withprograms such as preschool taking up the newly available space.

“However, young families are moving into neighbourhoods fartherand farther away from where schools exist. The schools they do attendare bursting at the seams.” Many need transportation, which meansbusing costs are climbing, Cumbers adds.

For further information, please send an e-mail to: [email protected].

❏

BCSTA

T


April 1, 2007

Several members of our Executive Committee had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the School PlantOfficials Association (SPOA) last month in an effort to promote dialogue between our two organizations. I would like toexpress our appreciation to John Garossino, Chuck Morris, Jim Garfield and Grant Davidson for taking the time to partic-ipate in this meeting.

Although both groups share involvement on a number of Ministry committees and initiatives, it has been some time sinceour Associations have had a face-to-face meeting to discuss issues and explore opportunities.

After outlining the purpose and objectives of our respective organizations, the focus of the meeting shifted to how we couldutilize resources more effectively, particularly in the area of professional development for our members. There was a com-mitment to investigate shared professional development activities in the future in an effort to strengthen the ties betweenthe two organizations.

I believe both groups came away from this meeting encouraged by its potential. We look forward to working with yourAssociation on such an endeavor and would welcome the opportunity to meet with representatives of SPOA on a more reg-ular basis.

Yours truly,

Cameron Dow, President

The increasing demand for a more energy efficient building envelopeis an important challenge facing current and prospective owners anddesigners. With more and more attention being given to saving ener-gy and reducing the impact of buildings on the environment(1), agreater effort is being made to improve how building assemblies areconstructed.

Traditional steel stud wall construction can be a versatile and eco-nomically viable construction method, but how thermally efficient isit? How effective are current building practices in managing moistureaccumulation, and the associated problems that can occur as a resultof an inadequate design or poor installation? Can today’s constructionmethods meet the rapidly growing requirements for increased insula-tion values and performance in tomorrow’s walls? In general, steelframed walls offer many advantages such as relative low cost, non-

combustibility and high strength. They enable a small footprint andare lightweight. However, steel is also highly conductive and can cre-ate a pathway to expel a building’s increasingly expensive heatingand cooling load to the exterior, thereby dramatically reducing abuilding’s thermal efficiency, and increasing the cost to its owner toprovide thermal comfort for its occupants. Traditional steel stud wallsinsulate only the wall cavity space and as a result of this commonpractice, the R-value(2) of these walls can be reduced by as much as40 to 60 percent due to thermal bridging though the walls steel fram-ing. ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating and AirConditioning Engineers) recognizes this and requires that designersuse a correction factor when calculating the effective thermal per-formance of fiberglass insulation in steel stud walls. One way toimprove upon this is to use continuous rigid insulation on the exteri-

...In Search of...A Better Insulated Steel Framed Wall

By Les Yard

BC SCHOOL DISTRICT SECRETARY-TREASURERS’ ASSOCIATIONc/o 14225 - 56 Avenue, Surrey, BC V3A 3X3 Ph: (604) 599-7416 Fax: (604) 596-4197


or side of a wall assembly. Continuous rigid insulation on the exteri-or of the steel studs is not affected by the high thermal conductivityof the framing, and as a result, ASHRAE gives full credit to the R-value(2) of exterior insulation (See Chart: Effective R-ValueComparison)(3,4).

Controlling moisture in steel stud wall cavities is also extremelyimportant to the long-term durability of the wall system. Regardlessof the climate location, moisture can find its way into the wallthrough many means, including vapour diffusion, exfiltration andinfiltration of air or bulk water intrusion.

Real life example: 400 occupants in a typical commercial buildingcan emit up to 80 kgs (176 lbs) of water vapour into the air per day.This water vapour can diffuse into the wall cavity and may reduce theefficiency of the cavity insulation(5).

In Severe Cold, Cold and Mixed Humid climates, exfiltrating aircan lead to concealed condensation and moisture accumulation whencavity temperatures are below the dew point temperature of the exfil-trating air. One method to reduce or avoid the potential for condensa-tion in a wall assembly is to keep the cavity warm by providing con-tinuous exterior insulation in addition to fiberglass batts, or for greatermoisture control, continuous insulation and an empty cavity space.Moisture accumulation can cause a reduction in insulation efficiencyand also create conditions that may support the growth of mould andmildew in a wall. Regardless of the means of entry, the key to con-trolling moisture buildup is to limit the amount of water that entersthe cavity from the exterior side of the building, and manage the envi-ronment in the cavity space to ensure proper drying of the wall sys-tem. For more information to help understand how a wall system willhave a better chance at longevity and superior performance, pleasesee “Moisture Management in Steel Stud Assemblies”(6).

Owners, occupants, designers and the general public are all becom-ing increasingly aware of the pressing need to reduce our energy andenvironmental footprint. This fact alone will necessitate a movementtoward improving the effective energy performance of wall assem-blies measured over a building’s lifetime and will, with greater fre-quency, replace building practices which emphasize short term, costdriven and status quo design. Well documented construction prac-tices, such as the use of exterior insulation and its ability to greatlyimprove the thermal efficiency and moisture management ability of asteel stud wall assembly, will be become increasingly more common.

Les Yard is an Account Manager with Dow Building Solutions

based out of Vancouver. He has been with Dow Chemical CanadaInc. since 2003 and is active in many local construction associationsincluding the BC Building Envelope Council (BCBEC) andConstruction Specifications Canada (CSC).

He can be reached at P (604) 472-7266, F (604) 472-7267,[email protected], www.styrofoam.ca.

References:(1) Buildings are responsible for 36 to 40% of total energy consumption

worldwide (various sources)(2) R-value means resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the

greater the insulating power(3) ASHRAE/EIS Standard 90.11989, User’s Manual, November 1992(4) The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center Report Number 58(5) Building Science Corporation, www.buildingscience.com(6) Moisture Management in Steel Stud Assemblies (Dow Building

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Professional Quality Service for Over 18 YearsCOMPREHENSIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT

- Pre-Renovation/Demolition Risk Assessments (WCB Compliance)

- Comprehensive Hazardous Materials Assessments (Asbestos, etc.)

- Confined Space Audits & Risk Assessments

- Asbestos & Mould Awareness & Worker Training Programs

- Hazardous Materials Sample Analysis (RUSH Available)

- Total Site Decommissioning Services

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Note the pattern where morning frost has melted morequickly through uninsulated steel framing


Abbotsford Middle SchoolBy Ryan Huston, MAIBC, Craven / Huston / Powers Architects

TThe new Abbotsford Middle School is designed for 600 Grade 6, 7and 8 students. The school will emphasize instructional technology asit leads to industrial education as a feeder school to a revitalized shopprogram offered at Abbotsford Collegiate School. Emphasis will be

placed on attracting a student body back to the ‘inner city’ school byoffering expanded Physical Education, First Nations and SpecialEducation programs.

A key generating architectural idea will be the establishment of aschool within a school ‘pod concept’ where students are grouped inareas according to grade. Elective and common spaces will act as anadjunct to these pods.

Architecturally, the School District is searching for a singularlyunique structure; a building that will act as the centerpiece of thiscommunity and help attract and foster a student body that is proud ofthe new facility. Emphasis will be placed on the use of steel, glass,concrete and wood in a building that serves to educate its inhabitantsshould they be interested in its construction and function.


Mechanically and electrically the School District hopes to benefitfrom the LEED program without becoming slave to certification.Incorporating energy conservation initiatives as well as daylightingand natural ventilation techniques into the design of this school isparamount.

Architecturally, natural material selections (stained and natural

concrete floors), low VOC finishes, and organic materials will beexplored and their cost versus benefit will be reviewed. Indoor airquality and natural lighting are important design considerations.

❏

Abbotsford Middle School

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WHEN DISASTER STRIKES

Scaled Model


WATER DAMAGE,Beyond the Obvious

Written by Art Johnson

TThe fall addition of Ops Talk has inspired this article entitled “WaterDamage, Beyond the Obvious”. It is correct that water damage is oneof the largest contributors toward property loss and that the effective

and timely restoration of these losses is absolutely imperative.There was a time when water damage was taken very lightly;

clean-up the water with a mop and bucket or even a truck mountedextraction system, open the doors and windows, and then let nature

takes it’s course. But there are many factors influencing the approachwe take today that were not as much of an issue in the past.

The PeopleAccording to Asthma Society of Canada, asthma canbe triggered by mould, dust mites, pollen, chemicals,and odours. Statistics Canada reports that “Asthma ismost common during childhood and affects at least12% of Canadian children.” The number of childrenwith asthma in Canada quadrupled from the 1970s tothe 1990s, according to some sources.

The BuildingsIn the early ‘70s, with the oil and energy crisis send-ing us scurrying for ways to conserve, the need fortighter, more energy efficient buildings moved to theforefront. Construction techniques and products thuschanged utilizing products like gypsum board, car-peting, and six mil. poly vapor barriers accompaniedby less air exchanges. All of this has contributed tobuilding materials and environments being more sus-ceptible to mould infestations and other indoor airquality issues.

The ObviousWith so many young ones displaying greater sensitiv-ity to contaminate and chemicals, and constructionmaterials with greater potential for fungal growth and

absorption, it’s obvious that there is a greater demand on those doingrestoration and clean-ups to be both, more thorough, and at the sametime, protect those occupants that are at risk.

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The ResultsLet’s begin by going through a couple ofwater losses scenarios and then determiningthe best practices associated with each situ-ation and thus avoid people and buildingproblems down the road.

Scenario No. 1: The school experiences a broken water lineresulting in fresh water flowing down thehallways and onto the gymnasium floor.The leak is detected within 48 hours andremediation begins immediately. Is the areasafe? That should be our chief concern.There exists a trip, slip, and fall risk. Arethere any electrical hazards to worry about?Has the HVAC system been affected?

Secondly, has the source of the waterstopped? Does a plumber need to be called?

Next, start the extraction. For everyminute that passes the water is making everyeffort to find the most absorbent materialsand the lowest point. It will not stop until itdoes. Good extraction is imperative with thecalculation that extraction is 1,200 timesfaster than most evaporation techniques anda whole lot less expensive. New tools in thisarea are helping this effort by reducing tech-nician fatigue by allowing the operator toride on them as opposed to using the old car-pet wand and having to put their back into it.That resulted in a very good job for the first15 minutes, and a very “good enough” jobfor the rest of the extraction process.

As soon as the extraction process isunderway, a diligent search must take placeto determine, without a doubt, just where thewater went. Water in building materials islargely invisible to the naked eye. How doyou know just how far the water went?

Professional restorers have the tools todetermine this. Not only do they learnthrough experience, but they also have thetools to do the job. Here are some examples:Moisture detectors that require the insertionof metal pins that measure electrical con-ductivity of the material. The greater theconductivity - the higher the meter goes orthe alarm sounds indicating greater moisturecontent. For carpeting, these are very effec-tive, but if you don’t want the walls showingthese pin marks, then one may opt for thenon-invasive style that accomplishes thesame thing using electrical conductivity,capacitance or radio frequencies to deter-mine the presence of moisture. This systemis complimented by attachments having thecapability to measure moisture behind base-

boards, within the pages of books andthrough walls and insulation to the exteriorsheathing.

A very unique tool that has left the battlefield of late and found a more peaceful usein our environment is the thermal imagingcamera. This tool only measures the temper-ature of a material. As most know, waterabsorbs energy and thus always shows upcooler than the unaffected materials. It takesa very short investigation to see a very clear

picture emerge that outlines exactly what iswet in which locations. That being said,understanding how and when to use thesetools is a trained professional’s judgmentcall.

What about the water that went under-neath the gymnasium floor? With the use ofinsulated pins that only pick up moisture atthe tips, using the same conductivity, a per-son can drive the pins into the hardwoodfloor or even passed it to the concrete below

Water Damage, Beyond the Obvious


it and search out the extent of the affected area. If the restoration isperformed affectively and expediently these floors can usually besaved. Addressing hardwood gymnasium floors using special airextraction mats or tenting systems has drastically reduced the needfor their costly replacement.

Digital cameras also play a part in the restoration contractors’ toolbox. Utilizing this tool allows us to look into wall cavities andunderneath sub-floors where our head has difficulty reaching. Theyprove to be perfect eyesight for the investigator and on a large com-puter screen, the ability to reveal much.

An effective drying process can then be implemented to addressthese wet areas. The IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning andRestoration) has produced a ANSI (American National StandardInstitute) approved standard and reference guide for professionalwater damage restoration, the S500, that helps an individual recog-nize the proper methods for effective drying. It makes it clear that todry effectively you must use hot dry air passing over all wet areas.

Using air movement in schools may contribute to increasing thenumber of airborne particles of dust and allergens that may have anegative impact on those with respiratory issues like asthma, andthus require setting up engineering controls like poly doorways orbarriers and the introduction of HEPA (High Efficiency ParticulateArrestors) air scrubbers or negative air machines.

As long as there is an excess of moisture in the environment, thereis greater potential of rapid proliferation of bacteria and mould, sothe emphasis should be on drying the area as soon as possible. A toolthat has proven very effective at accomplishing this is the “Water

Out” drying system. It utilizes the fresh air that exists outdoors, heatsit, and delivers it to the wet areas; it then draws the moisture-ladenair back outside to then be released into the atmosphere, where itwill do no one any harm. With good use of air movers throughoutthis process, the moisture is suspended long enough to be exhaledthrough the machine. This air exchange and purging is very effectivein maintaining a healthy indoor environment and thus reduces theneed for the HEPA or air scrubber machines. Within just a few days,and at temperatures that do not support bacteria or mould growth,the building can go through rigorous moisture testing. The resultswill satisfy the dry standards for the building materials and environ-ment of that specific area.

Scenario No. 2: A storm has caused the sewers to backup, and raw sewage hasspewed from the toilets and run through the hallways and under thegymnasium floor.

This scenario poses a whole new set of issues not encountered byscenario no. 1. Here you have the risk of pathogens and other bio-hazards contaminating the building and affecting the occupants in anegative way. The investigation of where the sewage went and wasabsorbed does not change; every area must be examined closely uti-lizing the tools mentioned in scenario no. 1.

A risk assessment of the affluent and the environment must alsobe conducted, however, calling for personal protection equipment,engineering controls, HEPA filtration and other precautionary meth-ods being implemented. In this scenario, all absorbent materials



posed of, and all substrate and concrete be thoroughly cleaned.Products for cleaning and sanitizing must be selected based on theefficacy and their effect on the occupants.

Upon effective cleaning, the Water Out drying system may be uti-lized to expedite the final leg of the emergency drying aspect of thejob.

Water damage remediation is not just a simple drying job.Technicians require rigorous training and a clear understanding ofthe affects of water on structural and content materials. They alsomust understand their testing equipment and its limitations. It wouldbe wise to suggest then, that if an individual in the maintenancedepartment of the school district is not qualified or does not possessthe tools and instruments to do an effective investigation or remedi-ation---even if the situation seems small in nature---a restorationprofessional should be called. These professionals can be identifiedby their training, certifications and experience, along with a clearunderstanding of the industries water damaged restoration standardsand guidelines. The RIA (Restoration Industry Association)(www.ascr.org) or the IICRC (www.IICRC.org) is a resource forthose looking for qualified restoration contractors in their area thatgo “beyond the obvious”.

About the Author: Art Johnson CR, WLSArt Johnson is the Operations Manager of Canstar Restorations(with locations in Vancouver and Surrey B.C.), and is certified byASCR International as a Water Loss Specialist (WLS) and aCertified Restorer (CR).

He has proudly served on the Water Loss Institute committee for anumber of years and as the co-chair for the Restoration Councilfrom the spring of 2004 to 2005. Art currently serves the ASCR(RIA)as the Environmental Chair.

Art has been published in many industry journals, including theCleaning and Restoration magazine, and has presented to variousgroups including the insurance industry, property owners and man-agers, and industry specialists. He also serves as an expert witnessand has been featured on news and talk show programs.

Art has attained his Master’s Certification with the IICRC inCleaning and Restoration, and has had extensive training and expe-rience in Mould, Asbestos, and Trauma Scene remediation.

❏


For further information, please contact Art Johnson at: 604-944-1461 or by e-mail: [email protected] or visit the website

www.canstarrestorations.com.


AApril, 2007 marks 10 years since Sooke entered into its guaranteedenergy saving performance contracting program with Honeywell.Sooke was the first school district in British Columbia to leverage anenergy saving performance contract guarantee to help fund facilityupgrades.

In 1995, this school district was coping with aging infrastructure,increased utilities costs and deferred maintenance issues. A decadelater, Sooke is proud to have retired the debt associated with this pro-gram by paying for the upgrades entirely through the energy savings.

Honeywell’s program provides infrastructure upgrades, and usesenergy efficient technologies to replace older, less efficient systems.Schools become more energy efficient, reducing utility and opera-tional costs, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, and most impor-tantly, enhances the overall classroom environment, providing stu-dents with improved learning conditions.

SD No. 62 had to convince the ministry (new to this type of pro-gram) that funding should remain at the same level, even though thedistrict’s utility costs would decrease once the energy saving upgradeswere implemented. Getting the ministry onboard paved the way forother school districts to follow Sooke’s lead. With limited capital fund-

ing available, performance contracting was the perfect to way toimplement the much-needed upgrades.

Honeywell developed a $1.9 million energy retrofit project for 22buildings that focused on lighting upgrades, heating plant optimiza-tion, facility wide building automation controls including CO2 venti-lation control and other utility saving measures. As part of the per-formance contract, Honeywell provided an annual guarantee of$230,000 in utility savings, which was expected to pay for the projectover a 10-year period.

“Ten years is a long time, and a lot of things can go wrong”, saidDave Lockyer, Secretary-Treasurer at Sooke District No. 62. “Buteverything went as planned. I am proud that we were the first districtto embark on this type of project, enabling us to provide a better learn-ing environment for our students and staff.”

The partnership with Honeywell has solved many of SookeDistrict’s energy and facility renewal issues and created an impressivelist of benefits:• A 31% reduction in total energy use • Less glare, strobing and noise from fluorescent lights and ballasts• 30% reduction in CO2 greenhouse gas emissions (700 tonnes

annually)• Elimination of PCBs and their onsite storage (a contract provision)• Creation of 18,000 hours of labour for local contractors• Increased awareness of energy conservation across the board, staff

and students• Reduced maintenance overhead

A comprehensive, guaranteed approach to facility renewal was themost effective and risk free way for the district to meet their facilityimprovement goals. Given the demands on staff to keep up with day-to-day maintenance issues, it would’ve take years to complete a proj-ect of this magnitude on their own.

“Honeywell continues to add value to Sooke beyond the originalenergy performance contract project,” says Dave Lockyer. “Theycontinue to lend their expertise to our new school designs, enablingour board to build more energy efficient schools up front. This hasalready benefited other districts in the province who share our build-ing models.”

Now that the project is fully paid for, money that was previouslyused to pay utility bills is now available to the district to invest inschool programs. The annual guaranteed savings of $230,000 wasconsistently over-achieved on average by 16%, freeing up additionalfunds that were also redirected to various school programs.

It takes a common vision, and a desire to create solutions, to addressthe need for capital improvements without available funding. TheMinistry of Education played an important role in allowing this tocome to fruition, by supporting Sooke in their innovative endeavormapping the way for others. Without their support, other BC schooldistricts would not have been able to accomplish similar feats. Beingan environmental leader in the province remains high on Sooke’s listof priorities, and they will continue to look for additional ways toimprove their energy efficiency. ❏

SSOOOOKKEE SSCCHHOOOOLL DDIISSTTRRIICCTT NNOO.. 6622 JJUUSSTT GGOOTT GGRREEEENNEERREnhances the learning environment for students through infrastructure upgrades;uses energy-efficient technologies to replace older, less-efficient systems


What is Talent? One dictionary definition is, ‘a special, often creative or artistic apti-tude’.

Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, in their celebrated bookFirst, Break all the Rules (Simon and Schuster, 1999), say a lotabout talent. A short excerpt gives us a brief glimpse how they thinkof talent; “Every role, performed at excellence, requires talent,because every role, performed at excellence, requires certainrecurring patterns of thought, feeling or behavior. This meansthat great nurses have talent. So do great truck drivers andgreat teachers, great housekeepers and great flight attendants.”

We see talent around us very often. Takethat crusty old Tradesman who has been work-ing at his trade for decades. He may be able tofigure out in short order what could take hoursof troubleshooting by someone else. Howabout our peers? How often have you beenamazed by someone’s ability to steer throughalmost unimaginable obstacles and yetachieve very desirable outcomes?

Are you born with talent? Some may havethe uncanny aptitude and expand on it as theygrow up. Others will learn how to exploit per-haps lesser talents that will allow them togrow into a person with the knowledge andexpertise to stick-handle difficult situations. Itis always wonderful to watch those with theuncanny adroitness to absorb every facet of aproblem and plan an outcome that reallyaddresses the issues.

Alison Coleman, who authored a piece on‘Human Capital’ back in 2005, said “Talentmanagement, by definition, means nurtur-ing and developing those people identifiedas having ability and potential, and itshould form part of any organization’srecruitment and retention strategy.”

We should be doing everything we can toencourage talent to grow within our organiza-tions. When we recruit, we are looking for thebest talent we can find. As a supervisor ormanager, we should be doing what we can togrow our own talent. This is a subject that canbe talked about for hours. Let’s hope this shortpiece has caused the reader to think about afew things and take action in order to enhanceyour employees’ abilities…and of course,your own.

Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sun-dial in the shade? ~Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; neverdesert your line of talent. Be what natureintended you for and you will succeed. ~Sydney Smith (1771 - 1845)

Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself.That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great innerdrive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent. ~Sophia Loren (1934 - )

Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if nobirds sang there except those that sang best. ~Henry Van Dyke

❏

THOUGHTS ON TALENTBy Chuck Morris


AAs part of Maple Ridge Pitt MeadowsDistrict 42, in Maple Ridge, B.C., theRiverside Elementary School embraces achallenging academic and cultural curricu-lum designed to help international studentsmaster the English language while acquir-ing the necessary credentials to eventuallyachieve a B.C. secondary school diploma.Committed to innovative thinking with afocus on achieving core competencies, theschool’s “leadership” philosophy parallelsits facility management philosophy.

When Jim Pasquill of the district’s prop-erties department was confronted with afailing two-ply SBS roof on the elementaryschool’s gymnasium, he was determined tofind a roofing solution that would combinelongevity and reduced maintenance require-ments. Rick Delorme, the district’s directorof maintenance, explains, “We [the district

administrators] are doing more with less.Staff reductions in our department haveresulted in each of us being spread prettythin. We were looking for more than a roof-ing solution; we were looking for a roofingpartner we could trust to look after ourinterests.”

When infrared scans revealed extensivewet insulation, it was clear that a total tear-off and replacement would be necessary.Pasquill looked to Thomas Hekl,Vancouver-based representative for GarlandCanada Inc., for assistance. As Hekl recalls,“The district’s primary concerns were thatthe new roof be watertight, long-lasting, vir-tually maintenance free, and aestheticallycompatible with the gym’s surroundingbuildings, which are a combination of greymodified bitumen and blue standing seammetal.”

After a thorough analysis of the district’sneeds, Hekl recommended Garland’sunique R-Mer Lite® low-slope steel roofingsolution. To ensure a quality installation, aGarland engineer provided a special two-day training seminar for the sheet metaltradesmen invited to bid on the project,which was eventually awarded to CambieRoofing Contractors Ltd.

Cambie’s Richard Skujins helped Hekldevise an alternative drainage systemdesigned to protect the gymnasium fordecades. Skujins reports, “What we had todo was to remove the old SBS roof down tothe deck, install a vapor barrier, then addslope and insulation, providing slope to theoutside drain to prevent ponding water ontop of the gym. By creating a peaked roofwe were able to reconfigure the drainagefrom four drains down to two that channel

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the run-off through the wall-through scup-pers out the side of the roof.”

Despite a late start in mid-August of2006, the team managed to complete theinstallation before school resumed inSeptember. By using an ENERGY STAR®

*qualified white reflective surface, the dis-trict will gain the additional benefits of acooler interior during early summer andearly fall, when B.C. temperatures other-wise might have made the un-air-condi-tioned gymnasium uncomfortable.

Delorme concludes, “Jim {Pasquill] hasbeen in the maintenance end of this businessfor 20 or more years, and prior to that hewas involved in construction. He has awealth of knowledge about what works anddoesn’t work, and we respected his decisionto integrate this low-slope metal roofingsolution into the district’s plans. Jim does agreat job of tracking our maintenancerequirements and the annual status of ourroofs. We expect to see fewer man-hours onpreventive maintenance and increased

longevity in general – and that will be thereal test of this roof’s success.”* ENERGY STAR® is a registered trademarkof the U.S. government. The ENERGY STARProgram represents a voluntary partnershipbetween businesses and organizations andthe federal government to promote energyefficiency and environmental activities.

For more information, please contactGarland Canada Inc. at 800-387-5991 orvisit www.garlandco.com.

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The 4,600 square foot gymnasium is the tallestbuilding on the Riverside Elementary School cam-pus. The bright white surface of the R-Mer Litesystem complements the blue standing seamrooftops surrounding it.

The ENERGY STAR® qualified white reflective sur-face of the R-Mer Lite roof will help cool the gym-nasium’s non-air-conditioned interior during thewarm weeks of early summer and early fall.

ad schoolsecurity 8...school plant officials association of b.c. spring 2007 3published by: del...

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