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From the President

Welcome New Leaders!

Officers Travel to NYC for School Boards Conference

SFMI Completes Successful Annual Conference & Exhibit Show

Thank You 2009 Conference Sponsors

SBGA Facilities Assessment Program :: A Road Map to Success

Effective Communications

NYSERDA Awards Round 1, Opens Second Round of State Energy Plan Funding

Communicating the Profession, Communicating Success

Expanding on the Academy

SFMI Partners with Empire State College to Provide Bachelors Degree Program

SBGA Business Partner Benefits

November 8-9 – SAANYS Annual Conference
Saratoga Springs, NY

November 10-11 – SBGA/SFMI Planning Meetings
Saratoga Springs, NY

December 1-2 – 4th Annual School Facility Managers Academy
Latham, NY

December 1-2 – 1st Annual School Facility Managers Personnel Management Academy
Latham, NY

NYS Association for Superintendents of School Buildings & Grounds, Inc.
119 Washington Avenue, Suite 300
Albany, NY 12210

800.359.SBGA toll free
518.465.0563 ph
518.465.0579 fax
info@sbga.org
www.sbga.org

Communicating the Profession, Celebrating our Members
Throughout this year’s conference we discussed the importance of communication, both written and verbal. Communication is key to our success, both as school facility professionals and leaders within our organization. As individuals we are responsible for maintaining clean, safe, healthy, energy efficient learning environments for our local school children and communities. Collectively, we help ensure New York State remains a leader in k-12 education in the United States. We have much to celebrate and communicate.
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Welcome New Leaders!
Congratulations to the following new SBGA leaders:

• Gene Figler, Jr. - Capital District State Director, Glens Falls City SD
• Walter Bennett, CDF - Northern Catskills State Director, Cooperstown CSD
• George Zlock, CDF - Southern Tier State Director, Chenango Valley Schools
• David Kaye - Central Western Chapter President, Rush-Henrietta CSD
• Mike Johannes - Niagara Frontier Chapter President, Niagara-Orleans BOCES
• Bob Brothers - North Country Chapter President, Potsdam CSD
• Howard Thompson, CDF - Southern Tier Chapter President, Bainbridge-Guilford CSD

Thank you all for taking on these leadership positions. We look forward to working with you.

Officers Travel to NYC for School Boards Conference
SBGA Officers and Executive Director Joe Van De Loo spent a few days in New York City for the NYS School Boards Association convention last week. Chris Ouderkirk, CDF and Joe Hammond, CDF networked with key players in the educational field. Officers and staff have attended this event for over 10 consecutive years and continue to strengthen the relationship between the two organizations.

SFMI Completes Successful Annual Conference & Exhibit Show
Nearly 300 Superintendents of School Buildings and Grounds from across the state gathered in Saratoga Springs from October 4-7 for a school facilities management professional development conference.

Be sure to check out the online photo gallery from this year's conference and exhibit show - and check back because we continue to update the photos!

"With the current economy, and the challenges school districts are facing, it's more important than ever that the state's school facilities managers gather and share information about our profession," said SBGA President, Chris Ouderkirk, CDF, Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds, Sandy Creek CSD.
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Thank You 2009 Conference Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors

• Boylan Marble & Terrazzo Restoration Ltd.
• C&S Companies - Cyber Café
• New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) - 3rd Annual Energy & Sustainability Showcase, Energy 102 Training Session and the Energy Efficiency & Lighting Program with RPI

Platinum Sponsor

• Siemens Building Technologies

Gold Sponsors

• Dataflow, Inc.
• Grainger Industrial Supplies
• Honeywell, Inc.
• M.A.R.S. Inc. - Sunday Brunch Cruise
• A-Verdi Storage Containers - Conference Gifts

Silver Sponsor

• Day Automation Systems, Inc. - Monday Morning Coffee Break

Bronze Sponsors

• AccuScan
• BASF Polyurethane Foam Enterprises LLC
• Campus Construction Management Group
• Clark Patterson Lee
• ECG Engineering
• Edco Sales
• Habiterra Architecture & Landscape
• Hunt Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors, PC
• Nagel Athletic Surfaces
• New York Plumbing & Heating Corp.
• Nickerson Corporation
• Sterling Sanitary Supply
• Strauss Paper Company
• The Greenwood Corporation
• The Louis Berger Group
• The Palombo Group
• Turner Construction Company
• Watchdog Building Partners, LLC

Other Sponsors

• Appel Osborne Landscape Architecture
• Ashley-McGraw Architects PC
• BR Johnson
• Sack & Associates Engineering Consultants, PLLC
• SBGA Mid-State Chapter

SBGA Facilities Assessment Program :: A Road Map to Success
School districts throughout New York State are facing uncertain economic times, and the New York State Association for Superintendents of School Buildings & Grounds (NYS SBGA) understands that the next few years will prove to be some of the most challenging for districts statewide. School budgets are tight, and under scrutiny. State aid funding is becoming harder and harder to obtain. Now more than ever, it is important for all of us in the education community to work together in reaching a common goal – providing safe, clean, healthy, efficient learning environments for children and our communities.
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Effective Communications
During our last combined Board of Directors meeting we discussed various email issues members are experiencing. We communicate frequently with the entire membership, and provide Association and industry news, training event updates and more, and we strive to keep our members up-to-date.

Following is what we are doing to ensure our members are receiving these important updates:

• Brian Bentley, CDF (SBGA 2nd Vice President - GTS BOCES) is working with his IT department to address these concerns on a statewide level. The state-wide RIC group met Tuesday, October 27 at GTS BOCES and specifically discussed solutions for our members statewide. We will communicate the outcome if this meeting in early November.
• Thanks to our online database system, we have the ability to track the number of emails that are opened as well as identify who opens them. This is valuable in showing us particular areas of the state that may not be receiving our emails. Similarly, we can track "bounce-backs," those emails that come back to us as undeliverable. Association staff is working to update these email addresses as we become aware of them.
• In an effort to avoid SPAM filters, we've broken up the distribution list in to a series of regional lists, significantly reducing the number of recipients on each individual email. This increases the likelihood of our emails reaching our members.
• For the past several months we've posted all Association and Leadership updates to the website, allowing for members to view them at their convenience. All of our e-newsletters are also posted and archived on the website. We will continue to do this, and encourage you to visit our website for information.

Please let Association headquarters know when you experience email problems. This information will be vital in resolving the problem for our entire membership. Thank you for your assistance with this important initiative.

NYSERDA Awards Round 1, Opens Second Round of State Energy Plan Funding
NYSERDA recently announced the availability of more than $49 million through the second round of RFP 1613, Project Implementation for State Energy Program. RFP 1613 has a competitive application process and funds will be awarded based on the value of the project.

The deadline for round two funding is November 23rd, 2009. Eligible proposers that applied to RFP 1613 in round one and do not receive funding are encouraged to modify their application and re-apply through the second round. Click here for the RFP application.

Things to keep in mind while you’re completing your proposals:

• This is a competitive program. You earn points based on meeting or exceeding program requirements.
• Double check all of your numbers before submitting the final proposal.
• Include an energy audit if you have one.
• Keep it simple. Complex and involved projects including advanced technologies cost a great deal compared smaller projects that yield greater energy savings (for example, lighting and control projects are less involved and yield high energy savings).
• Don’t bundle projects. Submit proposals for each project individually.

Round 1 Recipients
In late October Governor David A. Paterson announced that $24 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding has been awarded to support 87 energy conservation projects across New York that will help implement energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean fleet projects. Several school districts and BOCES are among funding recipients – click here for the full list, and to read the Governor’s full press release.

We encourage those Round 1 proposers who did not receive funds to reach out to successful neighboring districts for advice or suggestions regarding "tweaks" your projects based on their experience. When revising your proposal, keep in mind the suggestions above. Some simple updates may help you secure funding. Good luck!

Thank You NYSERDA!

We thank NYSERDA for their assistance with helping schools throughout New York State implement energy efficiency and conservation measures.

Communicating the Profession, Communicating Success
In an effort to assist you in telling your story, both on a local and state level, we've created a press release template celebrating our recent conference and exhibit show success. We encourage you all to personalize (for yourself and/or your Chapter) and distribute this press release to local media. We've just completed one of the most successful conferences and exhibit shows in our Association's history, thanks to our leaders and the strong education and training program we put together; let's be sure to share it with our community!
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Expanding on the Academy
Join us for the School Facility Managers’ Academy
Are you new to the field of facility management and looking to become a facility director in the future? Or, do you need a refresher course in the latest information on code compliance, budgeting, and health and safety requirements? The Academy will give you the knowledge you need to excel on the job.

Click here to register today!

The Academy is one of many top-notch, state-specific educational programs for New York facilities directors co-hosted by the School Facilities Management Institute, Inc. (SFMI) and the New York State Association for Superintendents of School Buildings and Grounds, Inc. (SBGA).

Seminar topics address the very latest information needed to create and maintain high performance learning environments for K-12 students, faculty and staff. Whether you’re new to the profession or looking to update your facilities management knowledge and skills, these sessions are right for you.

• Facility Administration & Regulation Compliance
• Building Maintenance, Technology & Systems
• Budget & Finance
• Personnel Issues
• Health & Safety

New this year the School Facility Managers’ Personnel Management Academy
Have you already completed the School Facility Managers’ Academy? Or, do you need a course in the latest regulations and management techniques related to hiring and staffing? New this year, SFMI is offering an advanced Personnel Academy designed to help facilities directors manage and motivate employees, communicate with district stakeholders of all levels, and navigate Civil Service and legal issues. The Academy will give you the knowledge you need to get the most out of your facilities department.

Don't miss this training opportunity - register today!

• Employee Performance & Motivation
• Civil Service & Legal Issues
• Communications
• Managing Upward
• Mock Trial

Both the School Facility Managers' Academy and the Personnel Management Academy will take place December 1-2, 2009 in Latham, NY (just outside of Albany). Watch your email, the websites and your mailbox for a registration brochure.

SFMI Partners with Empire State College to Provide Bachelors Degree Program
A college degree, especially in your chosen field, can enhance your credentials like few other honors. In addition to the Associate degree and Certificate programs through our partnership with Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), SFMI is excited to announce the creation of a school facilities management Bachelor's degree program through Empire State College (ESC).
(Read More)

SBGA Business Partner Benefits
School facilities management business partners play a crucial role in providing innovative products and services to New York State’s school districts. SBGA now offers a unique way to promote your products and services all year long!

By sponsoring our regular e-newsletter, you’ll reach more than 1,000 educational professionals on a regular basis. You can’t beat that kind of exposure! Contact Association headquarters for more information at (518) 465-0563.