LumAware ClearGuard Desk Guard Shields Students in the Classroom

One of the primary concerns in reopening schools is being able to ensure proper social distancing between students. Classrooms may be too small or laid out such that fitting in a certain number of students with 6 feet between each of them simply isn’t feasible. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests setting up physical barriers like partitions and sneeze guards in areas where spacing people out remains impractical. Building off of that idea, LumAware recently released a series of desk guards customized for use in the classroom.

The LumAware ClearGuard Desk Guard was designed with teacher input for maximum effectiveness. Company founder Zach Green commented, “We figured teachers knew best how to design these corrugated plastic dividers to keep their students safe. We took foldable box panels to them and asked how to best configure the dual-panel barriers for their classrooms.”

The product consists of two lightweight sheets of hard, transparent plastic framed in a simple white border. Like a sheet of paper folded in half, the two panels fold open and closed to a width that can fit any desk, cafeteria table, or library cubicle. Teachers have commented that students can decorate the border with crayons, markers, stickers to give the guard a personal touch. The product serves as a personal barrier that students can carry with them from class to class throughout the school day.

According to Jan Wilkins, the business manager of Wyoming City Schools in Ohio, “We chose ClearGuard’s Desk Guards because they provide an extra layer of protection for students. The portability means they take them from class to the cafeteria and back to class. Sanitizing stationary guards between periods just isn’t feasible.”

The guards also come equipped with carrying handles, and they’re sold in packs of one, five, 10, 25, or 100. No assembly is required.

“This has been a game-changer for school districts teetering on whether to open, open part-time, or keep children home through distance learning,” Green said. “This could assist school districts in that decision.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Minnesota District Starts Construction on Early Childhood Learning Center

    Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools in Sauk Rapids, Minn., recently announced that construction has begun on a new early childhood learning center and a new outdoor activities complex, according to a news release.

  • CU-Lock Haven Receives $1.75M Gift for New Entrepreneurship, Media Center

    Commonwealth University-Lock Haven in Lock Haven, Penn., recently received a $1.75-million donation from entrepreneur and alumnus Nicholas Subich ’17, according to a university news release. The funds will go toward establishing the Nicholas Subich Center for Entrepreneurship and Media, a technology-driven hub for innovation and experiential learning.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.

  • 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.