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Special Reports and Audits

Using a project team approach, NESDEC has the capacity to design studies to meet the individual needs of a district. Typical project topics have included:

  • Capital asset management
  • Job description development
  • School accreditation planning and preparation
  • School culture and climate studies
  • Structured time-on-task studies
  • Impact of school choice program studies
  • Dropout studies
  • Full-day kindergarten studies
  • Custodial studies
  • Food service studies

Administration/Human Resource/Organization Studies

The allocation of human resources is critical for developing and maintaining a high performing organization. NESDEC's team of highly trained professionals has the experience and expertise to study and provide options for school or school district administrative/human resource staffing reorganization. Through an intense on-site data gathering protocol, NESDEC documents the current allocation of resources and the anticipated allocation of resources to meet the needs of the school district as envisioned by key stakeholders. NESDEC's assistance leads to the development of a plan for creating an alternative administrative/human resource and support system that will serve the district well into the future.

New District Consolidation /Deconsolidation Studies

One of the more complex issues facing some school districts is whether or not to join with other school districts in a regional or cooperative arrangement. The reasons for exploring consolidation or deconsolidation can be many and varied. For over seventy years NESDEC has been assisting school districts in understanding and managing difficult issues like consolidation/deconsolidation. NESDEC's consolidation/ deconsolidation studies are tailored to meet the needs of the district. A typical district consolidation/deconsolidation study would include an analysis of:

  • Governance, including central office functions
  • Business functions
  • Special education including Medicare reimbursements
  • Teacher compensation and benefits
  • Staffing patterns
  • Education programming
  • Professional development
  • Educational technology
  • Transitional issues
  • Demographic/enrollment outlook

A NESDEC district consolidation/deconsolidation study results in a comprehensive report that focuses on data-driven options and alternative models for consideration by boards and administrators.

Educational Specifications

NESDEC offers two levels of educational specification development.

  • Outline Educational Specifications: Outline Educational Specifications detail the number and size of program areas, and serves as a preliminary step in seeking state assistance for renovation or construction projects. They may also serve as a basis for development of cost ranges.
  • Pre-design Educational Specifications: Pre-design Educational Specifications detail learning activities, number of pupils, size and shape of program spaces, relationship of spaces, auxiliary space, equipment, technology requirements and environmental considerations, as well as site considerations and community use potential. Pre-design Educational Specifications assist the district in:
    • providing the architect with the basis from which to develop design specifications
    • justifying the educational need for the project
    • describing the educational activities the proposed facilities would best accommodate
    • determining the nature and scope of the project
    • estimating the cost for the proposed facility