Auxiliary Adviser

"Providing Services That Power Education"
Volume 2, Issue 4
December 2001

As 2001 comes to a close, I want to thank each of you for a safe, successful year. The Auxiliary Services Division has made great strides in its mission to provide quality facilities and support services that ensure safe, healthy, inviting, and optimal learning environments for all WCPSS students and staff.

By improving the learning environment - building, comfort level, nourishment, support services - we ensure the conditions are ideal for student achievement. We provide services that power education. It's an awesome responsibility. With pride, reflect on some of our major accomplishments from this past year:
· Auxiliary Services continues to streamline its processes through the use of technology. Since August, all non-emergency work requests are being submitted through MAXIMO, the new computerized maintenance management system. The Oracle-compatible system provides a valuable tool to reduce equipment downtime, track and closely control maintenance expenses, incorporate safety in work plans, increase purchasing efficiency, and manage resources more effectively.
· Child Nutrition Services also implemented its new SNAP point-of-sale software, currently being utilized at 80 schools. CNS continues to install and train two schools a week on the ordering and inventory system.
· In addition, CNS processed 25,413 students for free or reduced meal status. Many departments from student assignment to instructional services utilize these statistics throughout the year.
· Through the Organizational Development Department, 1, 016 employees received over 7,726 hours of training. The skills-based training program enables Division employees to acquire and retain the licenses necessary to perform their duties - improving our delivery of services to schools.
· Of the total training hours, 1,705 were for employee safety training. Doug Burd, recently hired as the Division's safety officer, will build on this foundation as he carries out his mission to protect our employees and ensure they are not placed in harm's way.
· PLAN 2000, the current school building program, is in full swing. Facilities Planning and Construction completed three of the system-wide improvement projects, 19 major projects are in design, and another 11 major projects are under construction.
· Real Estate Services acquired 261 acres of land for six new schools and other joint community projects in support of PLAN 2000.

I enjoyed working with you over the past year and look forward to the challenges and opportunities that await us in 2002.

Over the Winter Break take time to renew your spirit, refresh your soul and rekindle meaningful relationships. Now, more than ever, it is essential to live each moment to the fullest. Never miss a chance to tell people you love them, you need them and you appreciate them.

I wish you and your families a safe, joyous holiday season.

Welcome Aboard

Please welcome Al Pruitt, project assistant; Bob Snidemiller, senior fiscal administrator; and Mark Roe, project manager, to the Facilities Planning and Construction Department.

You Look Marvelous

Christina Lighthall, senior director of facilities planning and construction, recognized the Wiley Elementary Additions and Renovations Project as recipient of the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Community Appearance at the Nov. 19 board of education meeting.

The Raleigh City Council's award recognizes an institutional project that exhibits a new standard for excellence and an example of the future, an awareness of the importance of good community appearance and stewardship of land, improvements upon an existing site or structure, and preservation of important historic and cultural features.

Facility Planner Larry Sherrill, Project Manager Mike Wiltzius and Architect Matt Gurel accepted the award for Wake County schools, Oct. 4.

And The Winner Is…

WCPSS Energy Educators Jeri Preddy and Christina Larkins recognized the following schools as National Energy Education Development (NEED) award recipients at the Nov. 19 board of education meeting:
WCPSS EnergySavers - Region of the Year - National Level,
Green Hope High - Rookie of the Year - NC State Level,
Davis Drive Middle - Junior Level Winner - NC State Level,
Lockhart Elementary - Elementary Level Finalist - NC State Level,
Knightdale Elementary - Honorable Mention - NC State Level, and
North Ridge Elementary - Honorable Mention - NC State Level.

Students from these schools took on individual energy conservation projects that they documented and shared with NEED. As a result, they were honored at the NEED National Recognition Ceremonies held in Washington, D.C. in June.

Get In The Zone - Your Comfort Zone

Over the last couple months Energy and Physical Plant, Organizational Development and the EnergySavers Program facilitated several heating and air conditioning workshops to help administrators make their schools more comfortable and save energy. Through the expertise of Wayne Mullen, Carol DeVaney, Phil Mobley, Sylvia Surcy and Jeri Preddy, employees learned how their HVAC systems operate, the benefits and issues associated with each system, proper procedures of calling in problems, and most importantly - how to operate their facility more efficiently.

For more information, please contact Jeri Preddy at 856-8011 or e-mail jpreddy@wcpss.net.

Training Wheels

Safety Training
OSHA Trenching Competent Person Training
Dec. 18
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wake County Commons Bldg.

To register, please contact Malinda Ferrell at 856-8078 or e-mail mwferrell@wcpss.net.

MAXIMO
MAXIMO - Principals, Asst. Principals, Secretaries, Custodians, Child Nutrition Services, Media Specialists
Dec. 12
9:00 a.m.
Training Center, Rock Quarry Rd.

MAXIMO Work Orders - M&O Staff
Dec. 12
1:30 p.m.
Training Center, Rock Quarry Rd.

To register, please contact Kate Nikolaisen at 664-5729 or e-mail knikolaisen@wcpss.net.

Computer Training
Resume' Format & Writing, Phase II
Dec. 13 (2 classes)
8:30 - 11:30 a.m. OR 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Training Center, Rock Quarry Rd.

Understanding the Computer
Jan. 24, 2002 (2 classes)
8:30 - 11:30 a.m. OR 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Training Center, Rock Quarry Rd.

Intro to Windows
Jan. 29, 2002
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Training Center, Rock Quarry Rd.

Overview of Word
Feb. 12, 2002
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Training Center, Rock Quarry Rd.

Tao Training
Feb. 13, 2002 (2 classes)
8:30 - 11:30 a.m. OR 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Training Center, Rock Quarry Rd.

Word - Level II
Feb. 26, 2002
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Training Center, Rock Quarry Rd.

Wake Tech Community College
Certification Education Courses - International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA)

Continuing Education Services within Wake Technical Community College offers courses designed to give current and prospective executive housekeepers the best training in their field. Certification requirements include six units of study. The college offers IEHA certification courses on an ongoing basis, and students may enter at any time. Tuition is $60 per unit. Register for one unit at a time. Class meets on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Unit 1
Jan. 4 - Mar. 8, 2002
Management Philosophy & Style
Communication

Unit 2
Apr. 5 - June 14, 2002
Planning & Organizing
Staffing & Staff Development

Unit 3
July 12 - Sept. 14, 2002
Continuous Improvement
Housekeeping Techniques
Work Controls

Tuition will be reimbursed to Auxiliary Services employees who successfully complete any or all of the courses in this program. A copy of the receipt for payment of tuition and the grade report or certificate of completion must accompany requests for reimbursement.

Technical Workshops
Maintenance Management for M&O Supervisors, Foremen, and Directors
Jan. 30-31, 2002
Time - TBD
Wake County Commons Bldg.

Blueprint Reading and Estimating
Mar. 11-13, 2002
Begins first day at 1 p.m.
Harriet Webster Professional Development Ctr.

OSHA Safety Update
Mar. 19, 2002
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Harriet Webster Professional Development Ctr.

Electric Code Review for Contractors License
Mar. 26-28, 2002
Begins at 9 a.m. first day
Harriet Webster Professional Development Ctr.

To register for continuing education, computer training or technical workshops, please contact Judy Cox at 664-5728 or e-mail jscox@wcpss.net.

Energy Workshops
HVAC Workshop
Dec. 11
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Training Center, Rock Quarry Rd.

To register, please contact Jeri Preddy at 856-8011 or e-mail jpreddy@wcpss.net.

NEED Energy Curriculum Workshop - 5th Grade Teachers
Jan. 22, 2002
4:15 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
Harriet Webster Professional Development Ctr.

To register, please contact Tammy at 850-1820 or fax your registration to her at 850-8947.

Pencil Me In

WCPSS Holiday Luncheon
Fri., Dec. 21
12:30 p.m.
Southeast Raleigh High

Holiday Closing
Administration Building and all satellite locations will be closed for Winter Break - Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001, through Tuesday, January 1, 2002. The heating and air conditioning systems will be in set-back/unoccupied modes in all buildings and schools during this time.

Take A Minute For Safety
By Doug Burd

I am excited to officially be on board as the new safety officer. Over the next several weeks I will meet with the safety committees and request their help in putting together a safety manual. I will write a rough draft of the safety procedures and the committees will review a few safety procedures each month.

In January, we will start weekly "safety toolbox talks." Supervisors will receive short safety topics to enhance the safety training already in place. The discussion should last about 10 to 15 minutes each week, and everyone will receive training credits for that time. Supervisors may lead the discussions or they may rotate the responsibility within the crews.

Next month I will also ride along with crews to get a first hand look at some of the opportunities and challenges maintenance employees face each day. In January or February, we will begin to review and identify confined spaces on all campuses.

We have a great opportunity this next year to get the safety program up and running. But, for us to be successful, I need the assistance of all of you. If you are asked to assist with the new safety program, please do so graciously; the success of this program is up to the people that get involved. Remember, it is your health and safety that we are working to protect. The accident you help to prevent may be your own.

I hope that you and your families have a happy and safe holiday season.

You Light Up My Life

Jeri Preddy, energy educator for Wake County schools, presented the 2000-2001 EnergySavers report to the board of education, Nov. 19, 2000. EnergySavers is an energy conservation education program designed to reduce energy costs throughout the school system.

EnergySavers rewards schools that reduce their utility consumption during the school year by giving them 10% of the money back for instructional supplies. This year, the program will distribute $54,415 in rebates. Each school can access their utility data on the Intranet (http://energysavers.wcpss.net).

Preddy explained utility cost per square foot increased from $.82 to $.91 this past year due to the following factors: *student population increased by 2,733 students,
*campus square footage increased by 963,917,
*heating degree days increased from 3,180 to 3,716,
*added media equipment increased utility consumption by over $198,821, and
*gas prices increased from $.69 per CCF (hundreds cubic feet) to $1.13 per CCF.

Even with the increase in natural gas prices, the school system still saved more than $70,000 at West Millbrook Middle by converting from electric heat to natural gas-fired boilers.

Last year, EnergySavers found and recovered over $20,000 in billing errors. Over the past five years, they have recovered more than $500,000. Preddy told board members that due to increased credibility with utility companies, this amount should decrease each year.

In addition, the program saved the school system almost $220,000 by contracting with a firm to audit rate schedules.

Departmental support of EnergySavers, in addition to the daily efforts of the schools, contributed to the savings WCPSS has recouped over the last few years. Preddy thanked energy management, facilities, custodial services, child nutrition, community schools, and the science departments in particular.

Stay Informed

Subscribe to the Auxiliary Adviser and stay informed of important issues and events in the Auxiliary Services Division. To subscribe, e-mail kwood@wcpss.net, with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. The newsletter will be e-mailed to you on a monthly basis.

If you do not wish to subscribe, you can also find the Adviser on the Tao bulletin board for auxiliary services. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Kristin Wood at 856-8036.

Auxiliary Services Division
Vision
Providing Services That Power Education

Mission Statement
Provide quality facilities and support services to ensure safe, healthy, inviting and optimal learning environments.

Goals
1) Recruit and retain a qualified and high quality workforce
2) Provide and maintain quality facilities and support services that result in a safe and healthy learning environment
3) Support recommendations of the joint county/school system strategies report