Materials Management

Materials management is a key element that often makes or breaks a district's success at implementing a hands-on, materials-based program. The case-study districts all use some type of materials management system that is well-designed, planned as part of the comprehensive adoption strategy, teacher-friendly, and operated by an individual or team (depending on the size of the system) whose sole responsibility is to stock, distribute, and replenish the FOSS kits. Computer inventory and routing systems are often used.

The most successful materials management systems rotate the kits, usually every 8–9 weeks, and allow 1 week of turnaround time prior to shipping the kits to the next scheduled site. Kits are often transported to and from a central kit refurbishment center. During that time, the materials manager inventories the incoming kit, restocks it with any needed consumables, replaces any worn or broken nonconsumables, and tags it for the next shipping location.

There are some districts that maintain their own "crops" of live organisms for the FOSS Life Science modules, while others rely on the teachers to use the live organism coupons to order the critters as needed or to purchase them locally. Some districts set up accounts at local pet shops that provide the needed organisms. (Refer to the Sources of Organisms for the FOSS Life Science Modules).

Some districts use the refill packages (available from Delta) to make the replenishment job hassle-free, especially small districts and those districts just starting implementation. The majority of the case-study districts purchase consumables in bulk from Delta and from local suppliers to replenish their kits. The average cost for refurbishing a kit can vary greatly depending on the system used. For more details, go to the Considerations section.

Go to Software for information on software for kit management.