The Slow Return to Normalcy

It’s hard to believe that another school year is well underway. More students, faculty and staff than not have returned to campus for full-time, in-person learning at K–12 and higher education institutions around the country. The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t in our rearview mirror quite yet, but after 18 months, it feels like there’s very little to say about it that we haven’t heard a thousand times. From wearing a mask to maintaining social distancing to getting the (now FDA-approved) vaccine if you’re eligible, the basic guidelines of living during a pandemic are pretty well established.

In the meantime, students especially seem enthused about the opportunity to resume real life and see their friends again. The benefits—both social and educational—of being surrounded by our peers instead of staring at a computer screen are too many to count. It’s nice being able to make small talk in the hallways again, or for a teacher to notice a wave of confusion ripple across the class during a lecture and clarify a point in real time. It’s not as nice having to set your alarm for 7 a.m. instead of 7:45 for an 8 a.m. class, but every situation has its drawbacks.

The content in this issue of Spaces4Learning reflects our odd hybrid state of getting back to normal, but still being mindful of a pandemic. You’ll find pieces on how schools can best utilize ESSER funds. The importance of handwashing and other basic hygiene practices. How schools can maintain and monitor indoor air quality.

But you’ll also get a glimpse of what vendors and educational institutions alike have been up to in the last year and a half. This glimpse comes via the results of our summer awards program, New Product of the Year, and our fall awards, the Education Design Showcase. The New Product Award program celebrates the exemplary product development achievements of manufacturers and vendors in the education industry. And the Education Design Showcase lets institutions show off innovative and practical solutions in planning, design, architecture and construction. All of the winners in both competitions represent the finest instances of ingenuity, resiliency and resourcefulness under pressure.

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of Spaces4Learning.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Texas District Finishes Construction on New Middle School, Admin Building

    The Westwood Independent School District recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Westwood Middle School and Administration Building in Palestine, Texas, according to a news release. The campus covers 106,000 square feet and has the capacity for 650 students in grades 6–8, and it will also play home to the district’s staff and administration.

  • Kenall Introduces Millenium Flair Series

    In a move aimed at modernizing institutional lighting without compromising on durability or performance, Kenall has launched its new Millenium Flair series, according to the Kenall website.

  • Ryan Companies Completes Construction on Three U.S. Charter Schools

    Ryan Companies US, Inc., recently partnered with Red Apple Development (RAD) and Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) to build three new charter schools in South Carolina and Louisiana, according to a news release. Ryan served as general contractor with RAD as the developer of record.

  • Midland ISD Starts Construction on Two New High Schools

    The Midland Independent School District recently announced that it will break ground on two new high schools in Midland, Texas, according to a news release. The district is partnering with Pfluger Architects, Lee Lewis Construction, and Satterfield & Pontikes to create a total of over 1.5 million square feet for 8,400 students in grades 9–12.

Digital Edition