The troubles of school districts across the country have been prevalent in the media during the 2009-2010 school year. Here in Michigan both large and small districts alike have been hit hard and many of these districts will be closings schools in the coming weeks for good (or at least until enrollment and/or budgets increase). While the tough decisions to close schools this year may be over, the logistics behind making a smooth transition are just beginning.
Below are three factors that should be considered carefully to ensure a successful closing.
Priorities
It’s imperative that a district determine the top priorities for school(s) that are closing before moving into the planning phase. Your priority may be the security of the building or materials, or it could be selling the property quickly, or it could be something else entirely, but the timing and resources will be based around your top priorities, so choose carefully.
Timing
Decide how quickly you will need to close the school(s) once the students are done for the year. Depending on your established priorities you may wish to do this in a very short time period. If so, that can affect the number of resources you will need in order to meet your goals.
If you are moving the property or materials into other schools at a later time (say a few weeks before the new school year starts) then make sure you establish timing for this as well so you can ensure resources are available.
Resources
Okay, you’ve established your priorities and know your timing goals for completing the closing and/or for moving materials to other schools. Your next step is to decide what kind of resources you are going to need to handle the school closings. If you don’t think you have enough resources to handle this project, or if you would prefer outside help for specific areas of the project here are some ideas of what to consider and where to turn.
- If you need supplemental staff to help with the moving look towards a staffing agency that specializes in the kind of labor you will need.
- If you need to empty the buildings, make sure you have sufficient space to handle all the property being moved out. If you need temporary space check with a local warehousing company or Third Party Logistics (3PL) service provider. They will have plenty of available space and can be flexible based on your exact needs.
- If you don’t have trucks or equipment that could move the property/materials out of the schools talk to a local trucking company. Find one with a variety of equipment sizes (smaller straight trucks up to full 53’ trailers) so that they can match your exact needs. Some trucking companies may also be able to provide labor to help with the moving as well.
- Are you planning to dispose of materials, or do you want to recycle some of the property no longer needed? You may be able to have a local waste and/or recycling company bring in dumpsters or trailers so that you can load them on-site and then they can just come and take them away.
The closing of any school is tough, but ensuring you have a plan in place to make the transition smoothly can bring comfort to educators, parents and children alike.
Evans Distribution Systems has worked with local schools for closings and the redistribution of materials into remaining schools. If your district requires assistance with upcoming closings this summer call us for a free consultation at 800-OK-EVANS.