NYSED Office of Facilities Planning
NYSUT Occupational Health and Safety Field Directory.

Directory of Staff & Services

The stated mission of the New York State Department of Education Office of Facilities Planning is "to ensure safe, healthy, comfortable, and acceptable educational facilities which promote effective and efficient learning for all New York students regardless of where they live."

The Office of Facilities Planning states that they will accomplish that mission "by establishing clear expectations and standards for school facilities. We will work with parents, teachers, administrators, designers, facility directors, contractors and the community to set in motion mechanisms for school improvement statewide.

This office of SED responsibilities include oversight of Part 155 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, annual building fire safety inspections and approval of district construction and renovation projects

The Office of Facilities Planning has a helpful website that can answer many questions about Part 155, construction and renovation, asbestos requirements, and other school health and safety issues. Their web site is www.emsc.nysed.gov/facplan

Asbestos
lsahr@mail.nysed.gov
Laura Sahr
518-474-3906

Construction Projects
cthurnau@mail.nysed.gov
Carl Thurnau
518-474-3906

Disaster Preparedness
lsahr@mail.nysed.gov
Laura Sahr
518-474-3906

Environmental Health and Safety
lsahr@mail.nysed.gov
Laura Sahr
518-474-3906

Facilities Planning
cthurnau@mail.nysed.gov
(annual fire inspection process; building permits; construction authority)
Carl Thurnau
518-474-3906

Fire Safety Inspections
cthurnau@mail.nysed.gov
Carl Thurnau
518-474-4738

Final Cost Reports
lsahr@mail.nysed.gov
Laura Sahr
518-474-3906

Letters of Intent (LOI's
amerges@mail.nysed.gov
Alicia Merges
518-474-3906

New York City Projects
cmessick@mail.nysed.gov
Laura Sahr
518-474-3906

School Safety & Emergency Planning
Laura Sahr
518-474-3906

SEQRA
cthurnau@mail.nysed.gov
Carl Thurnau
518-474-3906