Outsourcing does not mean bringing in a provider that relieves you of the responsibility for facility management, food service, transportation or other category of outsourcing. It means forming a partnership with a company more expert in a category of ser
With limited resources, it is important that practical decisions are made when investing in security equipment designed to alert staff about untoward events on campus. Fortunately, responding to an emergency in a classroom or on campus has been made easie
Obviously, bullying is not a new phenomenon it likely has been with us throughout time. But with the addition of new means of communications, students can no longer even escape into the safety of their own homes. MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and text
This piece is being written as the final battle lines are being drawn before there is agreement on a solution to the debt crisis and a first step for address the unbalanced budget better known as the budget deficit. It seems the Gang of Six has at least m
More and more schools are moving towards WLAN implementations, but they do require a stable and high-speed LAN back in the closets. As districts place more computing devices in the hands of their students, it is fairly straight forward to upgrade the LAN
The summer months are a perfect time to conduct minor renovations such as lighting and boiler retrofits, temperature control changes and mechanical system rebalancing. These types of projects require a short amount of time to complete and can result in si
As preK-12 schools struggle to adopt high standards of security on limited budgets, smart decision making will require a well-grounded perspective on the available options. While technology is usually part of the solution, design considerations bot
As multiple systems and application become available to teachers, administrators and students, the corresponding number of required passwords also rises. And with the typical school administrator needing three to five passwords to access various databases
Traditional school design has focused on creating a "culture of convenience" that minimizes travel times between classes. In a scramble to accommodate schedules, facilities were designed in tight-knit spaces that hindered any physical movement a
We can agree obesity is a problem and that digesting more healthy food and spending more active time are remedies. So what has been overlooked in this health picture, in these wellness policies from 2006? Healthy elimination that is, the effect of
Mike Conkle had a problem. Actually, he had more than he could count. As Energy Manager for the very green and very budget-conscious Leander Independent School District in the greater Austin, Texas, area, Conkle was always looking for ways to reduce energ
The current spate of school closures raises a number of issues, most of which reflect uncertainties that complicate the task of district leadership who must decide if shuttering facilities is the right way to address a hopefully temporary budget challenge
In tough economic times, colleges and universities are finding creative revenue solutions. Colorado State University recently signed two corporate partnerships that go beyond traditional corporate sponsorships normally inked with universities (think spons
Fritz Edelstein compiles education news of note from the Department of Education, the Hill, and other sources.
Fritz Edelstein compiles education news of note from the Department of Education, the Hill and other sources.
What are the trends for 2011 in regard to digital signage, and how is this technology used for emergencies, wayfinding, entertainment, and more? This article will answer those questions and provide some insight into what may be coming in the next few year
Organizations have shifted into hyper-reactive, lesser-of-evils mode to survive using the same methods of "yesterday" in order to fulfill higher demands of today. Such is the impetus for the now familiar term: Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). No b
Ah, summer the concept is idyllic unless you're a school facilities manager, that is. In that case, you know you'll never get a summer vacation, simply because there are so many projects to be completed. What projects do facility m
Those of us in the fire and life safety field need to spend the summer preparing new fire and life safety plans for new buildings. Staff and faculty may move from one part of campus to another, but they will need to be trained on new fire and life safety
Technologies used in a K-12 school might include a card access control system, defibrillator, fire alarm and life safety systems, mass notification systems for parents and video surveillance. Lower technology items might include exterior and interior ligh
Digital signage can be used for distributing dynamic, attention-grabbing information in real time. Wayfinding, emergency information, even entertainment -- digital signage technology offers a simple solution to static, traditional signage. Reduced costs a