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Conducting a Facilities Audit and Needs Assessment
Tamara Sepulveda
American College of Education
EL5723 Resource and Fiscal Management
Dr. Hector Esquivel
September 7, 2025
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Conducting a Facilities Audit and Needs Assessment
It is a common responsibility of principals to conduct audits to ensure that their school is
in compliance with all regulations. These audits may include an assessment of the facilities,
safety procedures conducted throughout the year, and technology available to staff and students.
As per Desravines et. al., “when school leaders are strong in organizational management, student
test scores rise and teachers and parents say they are happier with the school” (Desravines et. al.,
2016). After conducting a facilities assessment of my school, accompanied by my principal and
vice principal, I was able to identify possible needs for Public School #3. These audits should be
a regular part of school operations to ensure they are operating successfully and efficiently. I
have included the notes taken during the audit below.
Facilities Audit Guide
As per the National Center for Education Statistics (2003), “the aim of the audit is to
conduct a comprehensive inventory that meets the needs of the entire district management effort
- i.e., facilities, technology, and curriculum planners - in a coordinated manner and thereby
avoids the need for redundant collection efforts.” Conducting a facilities audit on a monthly or
quarterly basis is crucial for school leaders to ensure that everything is running smoothly and
efficiently. I think of school buildings as a human body, on the outside it looks like one big
entity, but inside there are many little pieces working together to keep it running and functioning
properly. This is why school administrators along with a teacher, the head custodian, and law
enforcement at Public School #3 should be included in these audits. They should examine the
building's structural integrity, including the parking lot, sidewalks, playground area, doors,
locking system, lighting fixtures, exit signs, clocks, classrooms, elevator, gym, bleachers, and
windows. They also need to examine the building’s plumbing, HVAC/ventilation system, stairs,
Conducting a Facilities Audit and Needs Assessment
Tamara Sepulveda
American College of Education
EL5723 Resource and Fiscal Management
Dr. Hector Esquivel
September 7, 2025
, 2
Conducting a Facilities Audit and Needs Assessment
It is a common responsibility of principals to conduct audits to ensure that their school is
in compliance with all regulations. These audits may include an assessment of the facilities,
safety procedures conducted throughout the year, and technology available to staff and students.
As per Desravines et. al., “when school leaders are strong in organizational management, student
test scores rise and teachers and parents say they are happier with the school” (Desravines et. al.,
2016). After conducting a facilities assessment of my school, accompanied by my principal and
vice principal, I was able to identify possible needs for Public School #3. These audits should be
a regular part of school operations to ensure they are operating successfully and efficiently. I
have included the notes taken during the audit below.
Facilities Audit Guide
As per the National Center for Education Statistics (2003), “the aim of the audit is to
conduct a comprehensive inventory that meets the needs of the entire district management effort
- i.e., facilities, technology, and curriculum planners - in a coordinated manner and thereby
avoids the need for redundant collection efforts.” Conducting a facilities audit on a monthly or
quarterly basis is crucial for school leaders to ensure that everything is running smoothly and
efficiently. I think of school buildings as a human body, on the outside it looks like one big
entity, but inside there are many little pieces working together to keep it running and functioning
properly. This is why school administrators along with a teacher, the head custodian, and law
enforcement at Public School #3 should be included in these audits. They should examine the
building's structural integrity, including the parking lot, sidewalks, playground area, doors,
locking system, lighting fixtures, exit signs, clocks, classrooms, elevator, gym, bleachers, and
windows. They also need to examine the building’s plumbing, HVAC/ventilation system, stairs,
