Playing it Safe Is Risky

We were recently asked to come to a school in the suburbs to help them with a space issue.  We meet the department head.

The student services area at this high school has not been updated for the the computerized world. They basically missed the 90′s and now into the last year of this decade they are in desperate need to update the space so that it can handle technology and traffic flow.  What has been done in the past is a band-aid approach,  supplementing a metal desk with a computer cart, taping wires to the floor with duct tape, and a collection of mismatched office furniture throughout the space.  This school houses about 2500-3000 students, and is in a affluent neighborhood.  In this office space, the secretaries are not located near the staff they support, and there are a lot of  students coming and going which cause major traffic flow problems.   They have had “furniture dealers” come out in the past and give them quotes using  basic floor plans to sell more furniture but nothing has been done yet.

Seeing how this school has not updated this area at least the last 20 years or so, it is imperative that they get the design of this space right when they do this, because it will probably be another 20 years or so before they get this chance again.

After our evaluation, we gave a modest proposal of the cost to redesign the space to the department head who requested this.  This proposal explains that we will provide a space plan that will take into consideration the adjacency of the office staff,  the traffic flow from students, common task areas needs,  along with other related items.  We would also provide a concept board that will include flooring, ceiling, paint & wall covering selections so that they will have an overall vision for the new atmosphere of the space.  Other considerations that would be taken into account is lighting, electrical & data needs, artwork & accessories, evaluation of noise issues, new furniture options, plus a plan to incorporate current furniture into the plan if necessary until budgets open up to by new furniture.

We gave this proposal to the department head, who then had to give it to her boss who is in charge of facilities for the school.  The person in charge of facilities who would not let us have a conversation with him, he told the department head he never had to pay for a space plan before and that is not how they do things there.  That pretty much explains it right there. That is exactly why the space looks and functions so poorly.

What he was really saying is that the way they have been doing things is broken. Their space is the evidence.  A band-aid approach of getting new furniture will NOT be a long-term solution.

While this may seem to be the safe approach for this facilities manager it actually adds more risk.  As Seth Godin points out in his blog “When people become cogs” Safe is Risky.

What has to be understood here is that your space and your staff are assets, just as cash is an asset.  But you can improve your assets by investing cash.  Training your staff to perform their jobs better is a good investment.  Investing in your space can have the same return.  Investing in your space will have dramatic affects on the performance of your staff.   Instead of spending countless hours  every week walking from one side of the space to the other to interact with the  staff they support, their time can be used more efficiently by doing the work they were actually hired to perform.  By eliminating the  traffic flow problem you will increase productivity for all involved.  Creating an atmosphere that has ambiance and functionality should be the goal.  Ambiance and functionality will improve productivity and morale.

Is it safe for this decision maker to do what has always been done?

Is it safer to take a risk and spend the time and money to get the space done right so that the staff that uses it can function to their fullest potential?

Is this administrators legacy going to be “I save the school a few dollars at the sacrifice of staff and students?”

Safe is Risky!

Magnet Schools

As we drove through this neighborhood in the inner city of Chicago, we knew we were out of our element. We were on our way to see a public school that needed assistance in using their space more efficiently & to improve the appearance of the school.  Not the first time we have done this in the inner city, but it was clear to us that we were really in the “inner city”.

As we walked into the school, we clearly were in a different world. A world where kids come to keep warm, and get a hot meal. A place that underprivileged were getting a chance to get a good education.

These schools buildings are old.  And by old I mean like built at least 50-60 years ago.

See this school is a trying to become a  Magnet School.  Magnet Schools of America provides leadership for innovative instructional programs that promote equity, diversity, and academic excellence for all students in public school choice programs.

One of the major keys here is that parents that send their students to these schools have buy in.  And by buy in I mean they are really involved with their children’s education.

To be a part of this program, students parents must turn in an application, and then a lottery system is used to select the students that attend.

We have worked with another Magnet School in the area, and from the looks of it these are good programs.  These programs need more funding and more support to get more schools in the program.  Awareness for this program is key.

As were getting ready to leave, I couldn’t help but feel discouraged for these students and the conditions that they were growing up in.

To my surprise, our contact person there, who had a great attitude and seem to be a very caring and passionate person said “come here, I want to show you something before you leave.”

She lead us to the kindergarten room, which was full of about 25 or so 5-6 years.  She asked the class to count to 10 in Chinese.  And they did it without missing a beat!  Then she asked them to do it in Spanish, and of course no problem.  But in Chinese!  That is one of the hardest languages to learn, and here were these young fresh minds, counting off to ten in Chinese!

That woman must have known that I needed a lift like that, because that put a big smile on my face and my discouragement turned to encouragement.