Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

MI Districts Add Vinyl to Windows for Security and Cooling

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 07/17/19

Two school systems in Michigan are turning to window-sized graphics for safety, security and environmental benefit. Addison Community Schools and Hudson Area Schools have both turned to sign company Insignia Graphics to design, produce and install perforated vinyl on windows in their buildings.

According to local reporting, the window coverings help to keep rooms cooler on warm days by limiting the amount of sunlight that comes in while also providing a level of security. As Hudson Superintendent Michael Osborne told a reporter, the vinyl "enables staff and students to see outside but not people from the outside to be able to see in the classrooms." He added that the vinyl also adds strength to the glass.

The Hudson installation was part of a $141,000 safety grant the district received from the state through the Competitive School Safety Grant Program.

The funding has enabled the districts to customize the vinyl with school colors and logos. The Hudson grant was also expected to cover upgrades to entrances for the district's three buildings, including protective screens on all exterior doors, creation of a breezeway at the elementary entrance and bulletproof glass for the receptionist at both the elementary and middle school/high school main entrances.

The complete list of recipients is available on the Michigan State Police website.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Myrtle Grove Elementary

    Phased Construction Keeps Students on Campus During Rebuild

    When Escambia County School District needed to replace most of Myrtle Grove Elementary School in Pensacola, Fla., it had three distinct challenges: honor the school's legacy in the community, bring state-of-the-art learning environments to the county, and be seamlessly built on the same site as the active school campus.

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.