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As someone who has dedicated his career to ensuring the comfort, safety, and efficiency of several buildings and grounds in the hotel and education industries, John LaBare likens facilities and operations management to a “fine art.”
“Like a fine artist, you start with a blank canvas, and you keep painting,” says LaBare, who has served as director of facilities and operations at the Uniondale Free School District for the last 15 years. “Next thing you know, you have this beautiful picture. I can always look at new floor tile that we put in the classrooms that I know use to be hazardous before we replaced them. Or I get to see the new state-of-the-art bleachers that replaced ones that used to give people splinters. It’s really gratifying to see what we’ve done.”
Since LaBare came to the New York-based school district, which consists of nine schools and nearly 6,500 students, his artistry has been on full display. He has overseen nearly $30 million worth of capital improvements in the district, spearheading efforts to improve HVAC systems, roofing, and replacing asbestos floor tile in every classroom. Other efforts have included a revamped track and field, renovated cafeteria spaces, and better gym floor maintenance.
Some of LaBare’s most exciting work has come because of a $158 million bond that got approved in 2018 for renovations and upgrades to schools and facilities. Besides replacing old boilers, planting additional trees, and adding LED lights in each building, LaBare and his team are focused on building over 150 modern classrooms. Each one emphasizes sustainability, energy savings, and security features and is slated to help the district accommodate for an expanding population.
“It’ll help us prioritize small class sizes, so students can get better education,” he says. “If you have 30 kids in a classroom, it makes it more difficult for the teacher but if you have 20 or 25, they are able to connect with the students better.”
While managing facilities and operations is an art, leadership isn’t an exact science, LaBare says. He prides himself on taking a nuanced approach to leading his team of 100.
“Some leaders are tunnel vision managers who believe certain things should apply to everyone, but I [would] rather deal with everyone individually. Everyone has different attitudes, thoughts, and approaches to their work,” he says. “That’s why you need to listen more and deal with the issues that each individual has, so they feel like someone cares and is listening.”
LaBare grew up in Massachusetts and spent his early years working odd factory, grounds, and maintenance jobs. After spending six years in the Army, he worked as a senior engineer at the Sheridan Hotels in the 1980s and from there, worked for several other hotels. Even though those experiences gave him the discipline, organizational, and leadership skills he’d need to succeed, he couldn’t see himself spending the rest of his career in the hotel business.
“The industry wasn’t as lucrative as I originally thought, and advancement just wasn’t there at the time,” he says. “That’s around the time when I saw a job opening for a buildings and grounds position at a school for Deaf children, which resonated with me because my brother and sister are Deaf. That got me into schools in Long Island and New York State.”
LaBare went on to work at that school for several years before serving in a facilities management position at another large school district for eight more. In 2008, he was drawn to Uniondale, a district that hadn’t had a permanent director of facilities for several years.
“As a young guy, I always aspired to take on challenges and bigger things, and Uniondale needed someone to guide the facilities department,” he says. “I had lived in the area for nearly a decade and had a good relationship with the superintendent at the time. So, to me it was the perfect opportunity.”
Looking ahead, LaBare is prepared to help the school district align with New York’s Clean Green Schools initiative. New York State Education Department commissioner Betty Rosa said in a press release that the effort “allows schools to become environmentally sustainable by reducing energy loads, decarbonizing their buildings, improving air quality, and implementing clean energy alternatives.”
One solution LaBare and his colleagues at Uniondale will be implementing is cutting-edge heating and cooling systems that measure airflow, CO2 levels in the classroom, and more. “This system would lower our carbon footprint while also creating a healthier environment in the schools,” he says.
At H2M architects + engineers, we believe that where people learn is nearly as important as what people learn; that the environment has a tremendous impact on people’s sense of curiosity, comfort, and motivation. We design bright, engaging spaces that foster collaboration, encourage discovery, and inspire learners of all ages. From elementary school classrooms to public libraries, H2M sets the stage for learning. With decades of experience working with school districts, universities, and libraries, we have developed the expertise necessary to address the concerns and issues facing administrators in relation to their buildings, properties, and growing communities.
