Operations Division

Welcome to the Operations Division

The Operations Division maintains and enhances the buildings that support our students and staff, ensuring safe and healthy environments, providing daily nutritious meals, and coordinating safe, efficient student transportation.

Find Your School Menu

View current menus, filter for allergies, see nutrition information, and more.

Check the Status of Your Bus

Updates are posted daily, with morning delays by 6:30 AM and afternoon delays by noon.

Capital Programs

The mission of Capital Programs is to provide a safe, healthy, and welcoming learning environment for every student. We realize this mission by acknowledging that our buildings require ongoing maintenance and identifying and supporting investments in these buildings. Many Capital Projects include environmental components like asbestos abatement or lead paint stabilization.

Our Departments

Design
Design is a team of architects, electrical, mechanical, and structural engineers. We provide architectural and engineering design services to all departments of the School District.

We seek excellence in design and promote energy-efficient, maintainable and resilient facilities. It is our job to ensure our projects meet schedule and budget constraints. We are continuously seeking talented Design Consultants to perform design services for our schools.

Technical Specifications
The Technical Specifications define typical materials and manufacturers acceptable for use in School District of Philadelphia projects and are based on and complement the Design Guidelines.

Access our technical specifications HERE

  • They follow the CSI format and must be edited to correspond to existing and applicable conditions for each project.
  • They should be used as a minimum baseline guide for architects, engineers, contractors, and construction managers performing work on School District of Philadelphia projects.
  • They address the most common major systems.
  • They shall be used solely for School District of Philadelphia Capital Projects work.
  • Any other use, unauthorized reprint, or reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited.
  • For projects with a system not included in the specifications listed here, the designer must create the required section based on the CSI formatting and comply with the design guidelines and Educational Specifications.
  • Any deviations from the standards must be approved in writing by the Office of Capital Programs.

Construction
The Construction Unit implements the School District’s capital plan for new construction and renovation of existing properties. The team works closely with the Design Unit and contractors to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.

Submit Construction Bids HERE

Contracts
Contracts Compliance is responsible for professional service requests for proposals, pre-qualification of prime contractors, estimating, constructability reviews, advertising and distribution of plans and specifications, bid openings and bid evaluations, and approval of Schedules of Value.

We also prepare contract award resolutions, contract documents, and evaluation and resolution of change order requests and construction claims.

Finance
Responsible for developing the Capital Budget based on the current facility assessments and District operations feedback. We also:

  • capture total project costs and managing available bond proceeds
  • provide project and useful life details for new capital bond issuances
  • track the utilization of bond proceeds
  • manage capital encumbrances
  • manage the payment of capital-funded invoices through the financial system
  • reconcile the financial results between the project and financial processes
  • confirm the capital eligibility of requested funding
  • facilitate the preparation of capital performance metrics
  • prepare relevant financial reports to communicate our process

Capital Improvement Projects

  • At any given moment, our schools can have over $225 million in active Capital Improvements in progress!
  • Our current projects include Boiler Plant Repairs, Roof Replacements, Fire Alarms, Emergency Generators, Classroom and Science Lab Modifications, Major Renovation & Additions, Site Improvements & Stormwater Management, Elevator Replacement/Refurbish, Cooling Plant/Chiller, Electrical Upgrades, and Paint & Plaster Stabilization.

Welcome to Environmental Management & Services (OEMS)

Working to create greener schools and maintain healthy and welcoming learning environments for all students and staff.

environmental

Facility Condition Assessment (FCA)

Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) is an industry term that describes the process of a qualified group of trained industry professionals performing an analysis of the condition of a facility or group of facilities that may vary in terms of age, design, construction methods, and materials.

The School District of Philadelphia hired Parsons Environmental & Infrastructure Group Inc. to complete a visual inspection of its educational facilities and large athletic fields. The data collected will be used to inform the District’s five year capital program and budget.

Facility Condition Assessment Summary Reports

The Facility Condition Assessment Summary Report provides a summary of the Facility Condition Index (FCI) value of a school facility and select major building systems. The FCI is a numerical representation of conditions organized into five performance tiers.

Facilities & Maintenance

The Facilities Department handles the day-to-day operations of district schools, including custodial services, field and green space upkeep, and climate-control systems.

Use of Facilities

The Facilities Usage Department organizes and schedules all requests for use of facilities submitted internally through the District and from outside groups and communities. Staff requirements such as Building Engineers, housekeeping, etc. are identified and scheduled as needed.

Fire & Life Safety

At the School District of Philadelphia, the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and visitors are our top priorities. The Office of Fire & Life Safety is dedicated to maintaining a secure environment in all our schools and facilities. Our mission is to protect lives, property, and the educational mission through proactive safety measures, rigorous training programs, and adherence to the highest standards of fire and life safety.

For assistance, contact our Program Coordinator at sstevens2@philasd.org or 215-400-5801.

What We Do

Fire Safety & Prevention:

  • Conduct fire drills and safety inspections
  • Ensure fire code compliance
  • Collaborate with local fire departments

Emergency Preparedness:

  • Develop and implement response plans
  • Train staff and students in emergency procedures
  • Coordinate with local emergency services

Life Safety Systems:

  • Manage fire alarms, sprinklers, and emergency lighting
  • Ensure systems are always operational

Safety Training & Education:

  • Provide ongoing training on fire safety and evacuation
  • Empower everyone to respond confidently in emergencies

Welcome to Food Services

Our programs and services prepare students for a quality education by providing the fuel necessary for learning. The Division of Food Services is proud to contribute to the educational process by providing daily healthy meals to Philadelphia students.

foodservices

Transportation Services

Coordinating the safe and efficient travel of students to and from school every day.

transportation

Technical Specifications

The Technical Specifications define typical materials and manufacturers acceptable for use in School District of Philadelphia projects and are based on and complement the Design Guidelines. They follow the CSI format and must be edited to correspond to existing and applicable conditions for each project. They should be used as a minimum baseline guide for architects, engineers, contractors, and construction managers performing work on School District of Philadelphia projects. They address the most common major systems. They shall be used solely for School District of Philadelphia Capital Projects work. Any other use, unauthorized reprint, or reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited. For projects with a system not included in the specifications listed here, the designer must create the required section based on the CSI formatting and comply with the design guidelines and Educational Specifications. Any deviations from the standards must be approved in writing by the Office of Capital Programs.