The Office of Physical Plant (OPP) has restructured their budget to meet a $1.1 million reduction goal. The budget covers the costs of the general operation of the Phillips Academy campus. These include utilities, environmental safety, cleaning, grounds care and all aspects of building maintenance. Michael Williams, Director of Facilities, wrote in an email, “[OPP views] the $1.1 million reduction as a long term restructuring to reposition the department for the economic realities of the future. We believe that we need to combine optimal efficiency and careful budget management to insure that the school remains competitive for the long term.” “We anticipate that the six million dollar reduction from last year will be reestablished over the next few years to ensure that the condition of the facilities remains appropriate for a school of our quality,” he continued. The reductions include cutting 12.5 full-time-equivalent employees, reducing projected overtime use by 40 percent and a five percent reduction in the goods and services budget, which provides funding for the purchase of materials. Williams wrote, “The tight economy was the catalyst of these changes, but we recognized that some changes were need to streamline the department for the future. We recognize that we need to make every effort to limit expenditures on the facilities so that resources can be focused on our core mission as an educational institution.” He continued, “Some of this restructuring resulted in job changes for some [OPP workers] which are not ideal for them, and many of us are trying to figure out how to get more done each day.” Williams said due to the restructuring of staff and overtime schedules, OPP has made work schedules more flexible. “[OPP is] focused on day to day operations more these days until the construction funding is reestablished to address more major building repairs,” said Williams. “Overall, the department seems to be doing a great job managing these changes due in large part to the willingness of the workers to make it happen and their outstanding commitment to the school,” he wrote.
