New Washfountain Makes A Splash

washfountain

The new washfountain at Madison Elementary takes up less space, and is much easier to clean than the school’s previous antique model.

Madison Elementary, part of the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, has more than 230 students enrolled in classes ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade. As with many older schools, Madison could use a few facility upgrades, particularly with regard to classroom hand washing areas.

After decades of use, a washfountain in Madison Elementary’s kindergarten classroom was wearing out and desperately needed to be replaced. “Most of the spray holes were permanently clogged, so the water would shoot out of the others and over the edge of the washfountain making a big mess,” says school custodian, Bill Ziolecki.

“Maintenance had become a big challenge on the old washfountain,” adds Ziolecki. “It was also a bear to clean, and frankly, the bowl material looked better if we left it alone.”

As part of an 80th Anniversary celebration, Bradley Corp. held a search for the “Ultimate Washfountain” to find the most unique, antique, or otherwise unusual washfountains. After judging the entries, visitors to Bradley’s website chose Madison Elementary as one of the ultimate winners. Most likely, Madison was selected because their washfountain was extremely old, and a new washfountain would benefit kindergarten and first grade students.

In early 2003, Madison Elementary received their grand prize, a new Bradley Terreon Classic Juvenile Height Washfountain. Juvenile-height washfountains accommodate at least three users — a feature that conserves water and energy and takes up less space than restrooms or classes equipped with conventional sinks.

“The new Bradley washfountain is much easier to keep clean,” Ziolecki says. “I’d like to get washfountains throughout the entire school. The children really have fun using them.”

www.bradleycorp.com

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Arizona District Breaks Ground on Community Training, Learning Center

    The Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD) in Tolleson, Ariz., recently broke ground on a new Training & Learning Center (TLC) for both district professionals and the community at large, according to a news release. The 90,000-square-foot facility has an estimated completion date of spring 2027.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.