MSDE staff provided an information-only overview of the Office of School Facilities’ role, statutory authority and planned schedule to update design guidelines used by local education agencies and design teams.

Deputy State Superintendent Krishna Tullure (recorded as Krishna Teller in the transcript) and Jillian Storms, Executive Director of the Office of School Facilities, explained the office reviews educational specifications and facility design documents for projects over $1 million under statutory authority in the Education Article. Storms cited Educational Article §2-303 (state superintendent authority to approve/disapprove plans for projects over $1 million) and §2-205 (state board authority on public education policy and school construction planning) as the legal basis for the office’s review role.

Office staff described a five-step process used to develop and update guidelines: form a work group with MSDE partners; research and outline content; conduct site visits; draft and review content with stakeholders; and finalize graphics and leadership review before publication. The office has six professional architects and administrative staff who assist the state superintendent and the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IC) by reviewing educational specifications, schematic designs and property acquisitions. Neil Joshi, supervisor of architectural research, summarized planned guideline topics and said staff aim to publish the first updated guideline (transportation/technology) in December 2025 and to issue at least one guideline every six months thereafter.

Committee members asked about guidelines’ application to new versus renovated schools, and advocates asked the department to ensure special-education spaces promote inclusion and proximity to nondisabled peers. Staff said guidelines are advisory best practices that inform LEA design choices and that the office reviews projects at defined approval milestones; the office does not monitor every change after construction is completed.

No committee action was requested or taken; staff will return future guideline drafts to the committee and full board as they are developed.