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The How to Create a School Sculpture Garden Manual
13. MAINTENANCE AND GOVERNANCE
Maintenance and governance are important considerations that must be addressed prior to opening the garden. These issues give rise to both personnel and budgetary implications.
Who will be responsible for carrying out the ongoing maintenance of the garden? Areas to consider include:
- Trash removal
- Sweeping of patio areas
- Light replacement
- Removal of any debris (broken branches, dead birds and other animals)
- Lawn care
- Watering
- Fertilizing
- Weeding
- Plant replacement
- Lawn mowing
- Maintenance of water gardens and fountains
All of these items require constant attention and regularly scheduled maintenance. Determine which of these tasks your building custodial staff or grounds crew can do. Are there items that require attention by a landscaping firm? It is best to determine responsibility for these tasks in advance. Try to get a commitment from the various resources at your disposal. You may want to consider asking teachers for help. The Nottingham Marine Biology teacher has indicated his willingness to take responsibility for our pond maintenance. Keeping plants and fish in a healthy environment can be a challenge. Is there a Botany teacher who may want to work in the garden with students? Survey your staff. You may find staff members who are passionate about gardening. Consider starting a garden club. Perhaps an area garden club would be willing to come in and give you a hand. Consider talking to a college or university nearby that may have a program you can tap into.
Remember, paying for all of this presents another challenge. Most school districts formulate the budget a year in advance. You must be able to fund your maintenance. Do you have a commitment from your building administrator that maintenance of the garden will become part of the annual school budget? (See Cost Factors)
Someone must be responsible for overseeing maintenance and governance throughout the life of the sculpture garden. Who will that be? Will this person be responsible for maintaining a schedule of use for the garden as well? What happens if three teachers all decide to use the garden at the same time? Consider adding the garden to the facility-use calendar or list.
You might wish to consider
starting a charitable foundation to oversee the garden. If your school is governed
by a Board of Education, you will have to gain the Board's permission to do
so. Incorporation and charitable status require legal expertise. You will need
to select board members with enough influence to support your efforts. Perhaps
members of your Advisory Committee will want to stay
on as foundation board members.
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