Maximizing school resources and managing a shrinking budget--these are two important items affected when a building's roofing system does not perform properly. Rather than acting in haste, school and university administrators should do what every teacher tells a student prior to answering any question: think through the research and studies to find the best solution before acting. The same is true when trying to solve a roofing problem. In this article, the authors discuss five elements that building engineers and school administrators need to consider in planning their course of action to help produce a positive outcome. These are: (1) Proper diagnosis; (2) School advisers; (3) Selection of roofing systems; (4) Warranties; and (5) Quality control. Simple steps on how to extend the service life of existing roofs are also listed in this article.