School District Leaders to Tackle the Rising Cost and Responsibility of Public Facilities at Facilitron University 6

New Executive Leadership Track brings superintendents and school business leaders into the national conversation around facility governance, finance, operations and public trust

LOS GATOS, Calif., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- School facility decisions that once lived primarily inside operations departments are increasingly reaching superintendent offices, cabinet meetings and school boards. Districts are confronting rising operating costs, aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance and growing expectations for public access.

That shift is at the center of Facilitron University 6 (FU6), November 9-11, 2026, at the La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla, CA. New this year, Facilitron is adding an Executive Leadership Track for superintendents, chief business officials and cabinet-level district leaders alongside its Core Operations Track for facilities and operations professionals.

Held under the theme "From Access to Accountability: The Stewardship Era of School Facility Management," FU6 brings district executives and operations leaders together around a shared question: What does responsible stewardship require when decisions about public school facility access, cost, maintenance and long-term assets carry districtwide financial and governance consequences?

"For years, facility management was largely treated as an operational responsibility. That's changing," said Jeff Benjamin, Founder and CEO of Facilitron. "When a fee schedule hasn't been reviewed in years, that's not simply an operations problem. It's a governance decision nobody made on purpose. Superintendents and CFOs are increasingly being asked to answer for these buildings in board meetings and budget hearings, and they deserve a program built for the seat they actually sit in."

The executive focus follows Facilitron's 2026 Executive-Level Board Policy Assessments of school district community-use policies, which have identified recurring gaps between board policy, operating costs and the fees charged for public use of school facilities. In an informal survey of 13 district partners, six of the seven respondents able to estimate cost recovery said even their highest rental rates fell short of covering associated costs, while seven of 13 reported that their fee schedules had not been updated in at least five years.

FU6 builds on the governance conversation launched at Facilitron University 5, expanding the discussion from community-use policy into the broader leadership responsibilities surrounding public assets, organizational performance and long-term facility stewardship.

Two Tracks, One Stewardship Conversation

The two-track format reflects how interconnected district operations have become. A superintendent may see a facility issue through the lens of governance and public trust, while a chief business official sees financial sustainability, a facilities director sees staffing and maintenance, and an operations or community-use administrator sees access and policy.

The Executive Leadership Track will address leadership culture and organizational performance, public-asset governance, deferred maintenance, lifecycle asset management, fiscal responsibility and the connection between operational decisions and public trust.

Running alongside it, the Core Operations Track will focus on the practical realities of school operations, including safety, energy and scheduling, maintenance, district assets, product innovation and community-use policy and access. Both tracks include district case studies and rapid-fire innovation sessions before reconvening Tuesday afternoon for "What Every District Should Do Monday Morning: The Future of School Facility Stewardship."

District Leaders and Advisors Bring Executive Issues Into Focus

The Executive Leadership Track brings together sitting superintendents and experienced advisors to examine the leadership decisions behind strong district organizations.

Dr. Wesley Smith, Superintendent of Newport-Mesa Unified School District and former Executive Director of the Association of California School Administrators, will lead "Showing Up Well: Leadership Wellness in High-Performance Roles," focused on sustaining effective leadership through high-pressure responsibilities.

Dr. Gordon Amerson, Superintendent of Val Verde Unified School District and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and Speed of Trust facilitator, will lead "How Do I Develop My People? Strengths-Based Leadership," examining how district leaders can build stronger teams, trust and communication.

Dr. Robert Taylor, Superintendent of Walnut Valley Unified School District, will lead "How Do I Build a High-Performing Organization? Systems, Communication & Culture," exploring how strong systems and healthy cultures work together to create accountability, consistency and shared purpose.

Anthony P. De Marco, Partner at California-based law firm Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR), will lead "Beyond the Locker Room: Building Cultures of Accountability Before Risk Becomes Liability." De Marco will bring a school-law perspective to one of leadership's most consequential responsibilities: hiring well, retaining strong employees and navigating difficult personnel decisions when accountability requires action.

Additional district leaders and subject-matter experts will participate throughout the Executive and Core Operations tracks.

Inaugural Facilitron Stewardship Awards

FU6 will also host the inaugural Facilitron Stewardship Awards, recognizing organizations and leaders helping shape the future of public facility stewardship. The awards will recognize leadership in four areas: facility governance, financial sustainability, operational excellence and community stewardship.

Registration and Lodging

Registration is $100 and includes conference programming, meals and events. The host hotel, La Valencia, is sold out, with limited rooms remaining in Facilitron's block at the nearby Grande Colonial Hotel.

Registration, lodging information and the preliminary agenda are available at facilitron.com/resources/facilitron-university/fu6.

Jeff Benjamin is available for interviews. Interviews with FU6 speakers can be arranged on request.

About Facilitron

Founded in 2014, Facilitron is a facility management platform and public-space operations marketplace serving school districts, colleges and municipalities across the United States. The company provides scheduling, community-use management, maintenance coordination, payment processing, facility-use analytics and operational support services for public facilities. Facilitron partners with more than 15,000 schools across 34 states. Since 2014, Facilitron has helped school districts generate more than $500 million through community use of their facilities.

Contact:

Mercer Brockenbrough, [email protected]

Michele Nichols, [email protected]

SOURCE Facilitron