4 | TSPMA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026 T here are few phone calls a superintendent enjoys receiving less than the one that begins, “We have a problem.” The chiller has failed during the first hot week of school. A roof leak is worse than anyone realized. A piece of equipment has reached the end of its useful life, and replacement parts are no longer available. Problems like these are part of operating school facilities. Buildings age. Equipment fails. Weather is unpredictable. Even the best maintenance program cannot eliminate every emergency. But there is a big difference between an unavoidable surprise and a problem the What Every Superintendent Needs from a Great Facilities Leader By Gary Lilly, Executive Director, Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents district probably should have seen coming. That does not mean everything must always go according to plan. It means keeping district leadership informed early enough that there are still choices. Tell us early Superintendents can deal with bad news. What is much harder is learning about a significant problem after options have narrowed and costs have grown. If a roof is nearing the end of its life, district leadership needs to know. If an HVAC system is becoming increasingly unreliable, raise the concern. If repeated repairs are signaling a larger problem, share that information before failure becomes imminent. Facilities leaders do not need to have the complete solution before raising a concern. Early conversations give superintendents time to identify funding, incorporate needs into capital plans, and prepare the board and community. Help us understand the risk Facilities professionals understand compressors, controls, roofing systems, electrical loads, life-cycle costs, and countless other technical issues at a level most superintendents never will. Superintendents do not need to become technical experts. They need trusted profes- sionals who can explain the consequences. How urgent is the problem? What happens if the district waits a year? What is likely to fail next? Will delaying a project today create a much larger expense tomorrow? Those are the questions that help district leaders make good decisions Help us understand value, not just price Superintendents also rely heavily on facilities professionals to distinguish among price, quality, and expected longevity. The least expensive option is not always the best investment. A roof that costs more initially but lasts considerably longer, requires fewer repairs, or improves energy efficiency may provide far greater value over time than a —continued on page 6 Terry Knott Sales Manager 731.333.6320 cell 662.287.3889 fax tknott@cortelco.com 1703 Sawyer Road Corinth MS 38834 Gary Lilly
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