MD Public School Construction

The Maintenance Effectiveness Assessment

Beginning with the IAC’s FY 2021 assessments, the IAC implemented a new Maintenance Effectiveness Assessment (MEA). The new MEA has streamlined the elements assessed by the IAC and now takes into account additional categories of Maintenance Management, including Preventive Maintenance plans and use of Computerized Maintenance Management Systems.

As a result of this change, results in FY 2021 and forward are not comparable to results in FY 2020 and previous years. With this change, the IAC has retooled the rating categories of Superior, Good, Adequate, and Not Adequate to be more in line with industry standards and to reflect how maintenance impacts the longevity of a facility.

In the new MEA, an assessment score of “adequate” (70% to 79%) indicates that the facility is being sufficiently maintained so that it will achieve its expected life span. Many facilities that received “good” ratings under the previous assessment will receive “adequate” ratings under the new MEA. This should not be interpreted as a decline in maintenance performance. The new MEA scores are not comparable to past scores.

To learn more information about the new MEA, please view the recorded August 20, 2020 IAC meeting beginning at the 4:00 mark in the recording and view the IAC’s presentation material beginning at Page 76.

The FY 2023 Annual Maintenance Report

1
Schools Assessed
1
Active Schools in Maryland
1
Total Square Feet of School Space

MEA Rating State Map

This web map application displays Maintenance Effectiveness Assessments throughout the state for fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Weighting Categories

The MEA includes weighting categories of major and minor deficiencies, which reduce the overall score of a category but can be corrected by the LEA for an updated assessment score before the assessment report is finalized.

LEAs have 15 days to notify the IAC of an intention to correct the deficiency and 45 days to provide proof that the deficiency has been corrected or that a correction is in progress. Upon receipt of this, the assessment report is updated and finalized.

Minor deficiencies result in a category reduction rating of -34% and pose a potential threat to life, safety or health of occupants; delivery of educational programs or services; or the expected life span of the facility.

Major deficiencies result in a category reduction rating of -100% and pose an immediate threat to life, safety or health of occupants; delivery of educational programs or services; or the expected life span of the facility.

Result Categories

The MEA results in one of five possible ratings: superior, good, adequate, not adequate, or poor. Facilities in the adequate category are maintained sufficiently to achieve the life of each system within the facility.

MEA Deficiency Removal Guidelines

Good and Superior: Maintenance is likely to extend the life of systems within the facility beyond expected.

Adequate: Maintenance is sufficient to achieve the life of each system within the facility and, with appropriate capital spending and renewal, the total expected facility lifespan.

Not Adequate and Poor: Maintenance is insufficient to achieve the expected life cycle of systems within the facility.

MEA rubric and scoring calculator effective as of July 1, 2022.

MEA rubric and scoring calculator effective prior to July 1, 2022.

Reference Guide for the MEA

The Maintenance Effectiveness Reference Guide provides a general overview of the 23 categories that are assessed during the Maintenance Effectiveness Assessment. Each category includes the Maintenance Effectiveness Rating Rubric and photographic examples for reference.

View and download the Guide

Preventive-Maintenance Task List

The Preventive-Maintenance Task List is provided to assist LEAs with implementing an effective preventive-maintenance (PM) plan.

View and download the PM Task List