Some time back, we performed a webinar in association with Facility Masters on the topic of “Tackling Summer Maintenance and Capital Projects”, so let’s revisit some key elements

Project is a drop-down box in many SchoolDude applications that can be used to associate records against either a generic “Summer Project” or specific summer projects.  You can create a Project name that will appear in a dropdown box on forms in MaintenanceDirect, ITDirect, InventoryDirect, PlanningDirect and PMDirect.  Simply create it in one application and you’ll have the option to use it in others!

When work or service requests are submitted, the person reviewing the request has the option of identifying if that request may be a part of a summer project and updating the status to an option such as “Pending” or “On Hold” or “Deferred” or a similar status that indicates “we’re not saying no, we’re just not ready yet”.

Target Start Date vs. Target Completion Date vs. Actual Completion Date allows MaintenanceDirect and ITDirect users the options of coordinating the start and completion of work that could be associated against a Project.  Several reports allows you to search and filter for any of those date types in conjunction with searching by statuses, locations or types of work.

Saved Searches enables users to set up a “save your favorite search” style of report and the ability to have those reports automatically emailed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

PMDirect permits administrators to set up schedules on a yearly basis for those projects that are expected to start every year during the summer months, plus the user can decide any details such as what project vs. trade vs. task list vs. # of days to complete, etc. that can autofill the resulting work orders.

For screenshots and sample reports, check out the attached section of the presentation used from Facility Masters’ “Tackling Summer Maintenance and Capital Projects”.

It is always nice to be able to share good news.  Today, we wanted to share how proud we are of our SchoolDude employees!  Recently many of our Dudes and Dudettes joined together on their own to get active and do some fundraising for a great cause.

Inspired by one of our own employees’ fight against cancer, team members decided to get together and raise money to donate to the American Cancer Society.  In true SchoolDude spirit, the gang did not just pass a hat around the office, they decided to really get involved and maybe even get a little bit dirty…

Joining a local softball league, Team DudeStrong is sliding into home for a good cause!  Every member who joined the team contributed and they also had t-shirts made, which have been made available to the entire company.  The profits will all be donated to their cause.  Rumor has it, the team has also secured a secret donor, who will be donating for every game win, along with an unspecified amount for each home run they make.  The more Team DudeStrong slides into the dirt, the money they will be raising for cancer research!

Just last week, the team, along with several other SchoolDude employees, got together to wear their DudeStrong shirts for another great cause – The Relay for Life.  The group met up in Siler City, North Carolina to take turns making their way around the track.  Each step, an important one in the fight against cancer.  Reports are in today that the DudeStrong Relay fundraising page is showing nearly $2,500!  The team’s overall goal is to raise $3,000 and with the softball season not over yet, we know that they will be sliding their way to that goal very soon!

Congratulations on a job well done team!  We are so proud of your efforts!

]]> http://www.schooldude.com/blog/schooldude-spirit-is-dudestrong/feed/ 0 http://www.schooldude.com/blog/battle-of-the-buildings/ http://www.schooldude.com/blog/battle-of-the-buildings/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 19:40:05 +0000 Jill http://www.schooldude.com/?p=2234 From April 30 – May 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting nominations for commercial buildings to compete in its 2012 ENERGY STAR^® National Building Competition. The contest offers commercial building owners and managers an opportunity to achieve energy, water, and cost savings and receive national recognition for their efforts.

Last year, 245 buildings from across the nation participated in the Battle of the Buildings to see who could reduce energy waste the most. In total, the competitors saved more than 240 million kBtus and $5.2 million on utility bills, preventing greenhouse gas emissions equal to that of 3,600 homes a year. Remarkably, almost a third of the buildings that participated in the 2011 competition reduced their annual energy use by 10 percent or more. And 37 percent of eligible competitors earned the ENERGY STAR by competition end.

This year, EPA is expanding recognition opportunities and offering new ways for organizations to get involved. In addition to recognizing the overall winner and top finishers by building category, EPA will recognize any building that improves efficiency by 20 percent or more and has added a water efficiency category. Competitors will have the opportunity to participate in monthly networking sessions, use free competition creative materials and logos, and be included on the competition website. EPA will also promote the competition through traditional and social media.

To be eligible to compete, a building must be benchmarked in EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager with complete data entered for calendar year 2011. There is no limit on the number of buildings you can register. Applications are due on May 23, 2012.

Not sure where to start with benchmarking and general building energy consumption?  Start with SchoolDude!  Check out our energy suite to learn how UtilityDirect and Conserve Direct will help you analyze and report on utility usage and track your ENERGY STAR Ratings!

Read the rules of the game, download step-by-step instructions for registering, and find FAQs at www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings.

We are so proud of all of the SchoolDude clients that were recently honored by the U.S. Department of Education for being Green Ribbon Schools!

In order to meet this prestigious honor, schools must apply within their state and then be nominated by either the Chief State School Officer, the Department of Defense Education Activity, or the Bureau of Indian Education.  A nomination is only earned after a strict set of recognition criteria has been met.  Schools are judged on the following elements: Environmental Impact and Energy Efficiency, Healthy School Environments, and Environmental and Sustainability Education.

SchoolDude would like to extend our congratulations to the following clients that have achieved the Green Ribbon Schools honor:

• Acorn High School – AK
• Roadrunner Elementary School – AZ
• The Athenian School – CA
• Granview Elementary, Manhattan Beach USD – CA
• Flagstone Elementary, Douglas County Schools – CO
• Savannah Country Day School – GA
• Fayette County Schools – KY
• Scott County School District – KY
• Clarkston High School – MI
• Adler Avenue Middle School – NJ
• Bernards High School – NJ
• Midtown Community Elementary – NJ
• Loveland High School – OH
• Springside Chestnut Hill Academy – PA
• Thaddeus Stevens Elementary – PA
• Wyoming County Career and Technical Center – WV

Congratulations on a job well done! 

For more information on how your school can become a Green Ribbon School, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at ED.gov.

The next question I presented to the group was a question of curiosity: “What types of vandalism do you most encounter?”  The response: “We could identify the type?!?”

My answer: Yes.  The method: using MaintenanceDirect’s Classification and Type dropdown boxes.

Classification and Type are sometimes called systems and subsystems by users, and function in a parent/child relationship.  In my database, I was able to show that I had created a Classification of “Vandalism Type” and created Types under this class to represent “Arson” vs. “Graffiti”.  Other options of vandalism types could be “Glass Breakage”, “Defacement” or “Theft”.

On a related note, another Purpose to consider adding to your database is “Accidental Damage” as not all damage to your buildings is intentional.

For more insight on creating Classifications, Types, Purposes or other data-tracking options, please contact SchoolDude’s Client Service Center.