A Day in the Life of ... a Facilities Services Construction Director When the 2022-23 school year commences, OCPS will open five new schools: three elementary, one middle and one K-8. Overseeing the capital construction of these multimillion-dollar structures – in addition to capital renewal projects (HVAC, chillers, roofs, etc.) and districtwide capital projects (digital marquees, radio system program, etc.) underway – for the district is Craig Jackson.
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From his office in Building 200 at the John T. Morris Facilities Complex on Magic Way, Jackson leads a dedicated crew of program management consultants, including Krista McArthur and Matt Akins. “It’s a never-ending planning process,” he said. “Without them I’d be struggling. … Everyone contributes. It’s a real team effort.” When not in his office receiving updates via virtual meetings or approving purchase orders or auditing reports, he can be found in his gray pickup truck traversing Orange County to work sites. There, he checks in on the work with general-contractor site managers, who ensure their crews with hundreds of men and women keep on task to make sure the schools and projects are on time and budget. Jackson came to OCPS from the Lake County School District, where he was previously the director of Facilities Design & Construction for three years. Originally from upstate New York, he also worked as a general contractor and project manager for construction companies in Central Florida and on Long Island, New York building schools. Also a photojournalist, Jackson eagerly documents a school’s building progression to include in his monthly COVE (Citizens’ Oversight and Value Engineering) report that he provides to the superintendent and COVE committee. Jackson, who has worked in construction since age 13, is most proud when a school is finished on time. “We [built] two high schools last year and we finished them on time and budget. That is an incredible feat,” he said. “I tell my friends on Long Island that, and they can’t believe we did that – two of them at the same time. … That’s just unheard of.”
10 | Orange Peal
Name: Craig Jackson Role: Sr. Construction Director, Facilities Services Construction Years with OCPS: 4 Hometown: Auburn, N.Y.
To highlight Building Safety Month in May, The Orange Peal team spent the day shadowing Jackson to gain more insight on his routine and responsibilities. 8-8:36 a.m.: In his office at the John T. Morris Facility 200 building at Magic Way, he attends a virtual meeting via WebEx with project managers, engineers and contractors about lead times to open portables at high schools in August. Also multitasks to answer emails.
