December 8, 2003

One of the suggested activities for School Building Week is for the mayor to conduct site visits of school facilities within the city. The purpose of such a visit is to assess the capital needs of the school system.

Most mayors visit schools to give out awards, attend a sporting event or attend a special program. Rarely is it to inspect the facility and to examine classrooms, bathrooms, cafeteria, heating and cooling plant, and general shape of the building. Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy was the first mayor in Stamford history to visit all of the city's schools. He did so during one week. Every mayor need not conduct a walk through of all schools, but at least make a visit to a variety of the city's schools and assess their capital needs.

Malloy toured the system to examine the capital needs of the schools and make an assessment of the school board's budget request for capital improvements. By doing so, the mayor was able to prioritize the needs and obtain a sense of how $100 million in capital projects were progressing. Stamford has put a high priority on school construction, renovation and modernization. Through these visits, Malloy obtained a first-hand view of how the schools are used and gained a better understanding of their needs. With this experience, Malloy made an informed decision on the capital improvement budget for the city.

In many cases this type of visit can also be of assistance during school bond elections to focus on the significant needs of the school systems for both new schools and the renovation and modernization of others. Because of their involvement and support, mayors have had a critical role in making sure school bonds and tax levy increases have been passed in many cities. School Building Week provides the perfect opportunity for a mayor to show interest in education and obtain a first-hand look at the physical shape of individual school buildings in their city.