The election will provide some distinct choices for voters on education policy, investment and support of education programs, and how dollars will be structured and delivered to states and districts. This goes for both the presidential and congressional r
The SRO is the positive image of police for our young people. The value of our youth seeing police in a positive light at such an early age is beneficial for the future, and hopefully we are teaching our kids and young adults to have a greater respect for
The ability of any staff member in a school to implement the lockdown process during the first critical 30 seconds of an event no matter which employee becomes aware of the threat, where they are in the school or the nature of the threat is
When classes end for the summer break, the facility director and custodial staff race to get the carpet, vinyl tile, concrete, rubber and other kinds of flooring across the district back in shape for next year, which, of course, is only a couple months aw
And with much, and varying, activity in bustling school libraries, comes a considerable amount of wear and tear to furniture. Issues such as budgetary constraints and changes in how school libraries are being used complicate the process of replacing that
While the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) narrowbanding mandate may seem like one more bothersome chore, some school officials view it as a way to upgrade safety and security across the district.
Successful school safety preparedness means looking ahead to what could happen, then figuring out how to deal with it. That's how foreknowledge is gained. While some people live in denial of the dangers schools face, those whose duty is to protect ou
Like a complex problem, designing the Forum required collaboration, conversation and concentration. The science department knew exactly what it did not want: predictable or distracting hallways or public space. Critical listening and design dialogue allow
Not too long ago, students used to leave their cell phones and other devices at home, or they had to turn the devices off before class started. Now, mobile technology is often welcomed in the classroom as a way to open up learning and move beyond the trad
That 90-percent rule of thumb? It's a nice formula, but it is just that, a model, not a reflection of the actual activity of the school. Usage and educational philosophy, not some mathematical formula, should determine how space is used and what perc
What happens if we don't make education facilities a high priority? The longer we wait, the higher the investment becomes and the farther behind our children fall. We remain hopeful, for what else is there?
One of the key ways for school administrators and passenger trip organizers to safeguard their students when arranging ground transportation is to ensure they select the safer motor coach companies in the industry. Transportation safety no longer falls so
With attention to detail, it is possible to create tight building envelopes that conserve energy and protect against water intrusion. The benefit is schools that last 100 years, as intended. In addition, tightening the envelope on renovation projects can
School designers in the United States always had the urge to experiment with new designs but this has come in increments, says Baker in her analysis of the history of school design in this country. "Technology is starting to allow us to break out of
Pressure has been building in many parts of the nation to close and merge neighboring small districts, creating larger, more economic units. The basic idea is to eliminate costs (do we really need two superintendents?), but more often, the question revolv
Initially developed by the Cascadian Green Building Council (CGBC) in 2006, the Living Building Challenge (LBC) raises the "green bar" and motivates significant change in the built environment. It goes beyond other green building programs, such
Athletic coaches are famous for burning the midnight oil in an effort to find a competitive advantage. They study film, evaluate their team's strengths and weaknesses and devise complex strategies all in the name of being as informed as possible. S
Today's educators require technology systems to help enhance their reach and effectiveness. Administrators require technology to help ensure safety, reliability and success in support of its teachers and students. "Where do we begin?" —
Are we making progress? Is it happening fast enough? Are we doing the right thing for our kids? Losing a generation of children while we get our act together cannot be an option.
In today's raw, aggressive world, it seems important to bar a parent with that idea from entering. That's just one of many reasons that schools, today, typically lock all exterior doors and have a hall monitor to greet and question anyone trying