CA Facility Inspection Tool Changes...

We figure it's important to get the word out... Here's what CASH put out yesterday - Thank you CASH for helping keep the FIT managed and our input heard:

"On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, the State Allocation Board (SAB) approved the Office of Public School Construction’s (OPSC) proposed changes to the Facility Inspection Tool (FIT) on Consent.?These changes were required as a result of SB 129 (Chapter 69, Budget Act of 2021 – Skinner) and required OPSC to consult with stakeholders about how to improve the FIT, including consideration of the Association of Physical Plant Administrator’s (APPA) Operational Guidelines for Educational Facilities.??

The OPSC held three stakeholder meetings to hear public input on many issues, including requiring the use of APPA cleaning guidelines, inclusion of the number of custodial/maintenance staff assigned to the site, and additional building and site information.?After a robust stakeholder discussion, the OPSC struck a balance between the requirement to provide new information and ensuring adequate flexibility for school district maintenance departments – the changes related to cleanliness and custodial/maintenance accounting are OPTIONAL, the requirement to provide building and site information is REQUIRED.?These changes will go into effect July 1, 2022.??

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Summary of Changes

The following is a summary of OPSC’s changes to the FIT.?The revised FIT includes an additional worksheet to capture additional facility details, including the following:

• Includes "Surfaces" in "Overall Cleanliness."
• Verification that restrooms are stocked with menstrual products to comply with current law.
• Number of custodian and maintenance staff - this information is OPTIONAL.
• Total estimated building volume, estimated site square footage, site enrollment and restroom count - this information is REQUIRED.
• Overall Grade - Stakeholders discussed the option of using letter grades instead of/in addition to the existing "Exemplary, Good, Fair, and Poor", but stakeholders ultimately preferred percentages over letter grades.
• Allows school districts to comment in multiple locations through the FIT, and can provide details on when they plan to address issues identified in the FIT.?
• For more detailed information and to see OPSC’s analysis of the proposed changes to the FIT, click?here.?The following are key page numbers:
• ???????????1. Pages 359-362 – Stakeholder Issues/Summary of Changes
• ???????????2. Pages 372-374 (Attachment B – FIT Form)
• ???????????3. Pages 375-381 (Attachment C – User Instructions)

The Facility Inspection Tool (FIT), along with the “Good Repair” standard and county office facility inspections, are part of the Williams school facilities legacy and were included in the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), and are an essential tool for school maintenance departments to ensure their facilities are clean, safe and functional.?CASH and the CASH Maintenance Network (CMN) would like to thank OPSC and all stakeholders to participated in the policy discussion.?More to come on this issues from the CASH Maintenance Network (CMN).??

? ~Ian Padilla, Legislative Advocate??"