There have been many positive and negative discussions over the use of contracted janitorial services. A good friend at another school district shared his belief with me that "you must inspect what you expect." This must be followed whether you
Every year, a number of college ranking reports are compiled and published for students and parents looking to find the right institution. These reports include rankings based solely on academic programs and institutions as a whole. Schools are pitted aga
Large and small, public and private school administrators share what they've learned from the H1N1 pandemic.
Constructing new and efficient buildings on a college or university campus is cause for celebration. Unfortunately, there is not much celebrating when a parking deck is repaired, worn carpet is replaced, or a leaky faucet is fixed. Deferred maintenance is
Last month, I asked "What do you do when elementary school population is shrinking, the budget is tight and schools have empty seats and empty rooms?" Thirty-five years ago, school districts answered by selling buildings. Later, when population
School maintenance is a year-round issue. But, generally, it's the winter season that presents the most problems. Here are the reports from a city school district, a county-wide district and a state-wide program on how they cope, especially when the weath
When the University of Maryland needed a high-performance, campus-wide, code-compliant, integrated fire alarm monitoring system, they took the time to research the options and plan for the best solution.
In today's economy it's becoming increasingly difficult for graduates to find that elusive first job. Employers have cut back significantly on internship programs, which means that many graduates are attempting to enter the workforce without any
Sage on the stage, independent study, collaborative teaming, hands-on/project-based teaching methodologies and many other learning/teaching styles and methods that have evolved and transitioned throughout the years will not be thinking of the past, but wi
A report from the Rural School and Community Trust warns of the effects of poverty on students in rural school districts.
As more school districts across the nation embrace renewable energy technologies, many are now considering the merits of photovoltaic systems. This technology is a form of solar energy that converts sunlight to electricity through the use of photovoltaic
It takes a village to raise a child, but that's nothing compared with designing spaces on a college campus. A variety of voices need to be heard to pull off a successful project. How do you know if the right players are on your team?
A handful of designers and suppliers offer their combined knowledge and experience so that designers and administrators can better know what to consider when making decisions about which doors and windows to use in new building or renovation projects in o
Sage on the stage, independent study, collaborative teaming, hands-on/project-based teaching methodologies and many other learning/teaching styles and methods that have evolved and transitioned throughout the past 20 years. he archaic "factory model&
As schools implement sustainable initiatives across campus, many are looking at renewable energy sources as a way to uphold green practices and save money. While some campus initiatives can cost little, short of students volunteering their time, the cost
Facility personnel have hundreds of choices when it comes to selecting the best insulation for a project. Some products have been on the market for decades, while others are relatively new. Following some key points will help to ensure that the selected i
When schools decide to replace or increase video cameras due to campus growth or changes and evolving security goals, many discover operational efficiencies and cost benefits of converging legacy equipment with newer, more sophisticated systems that are i
Despite the negative effects of the economy, the one factor that has helped students thrive in school this past year is an increased emphasis being placed on engagement. Engagement is fostered in many ways. It is about building connections — students
The Global Positioning System (GPS) that has now become so commonplace began with the launch of the system's first navigational satellite in 1978. GPS was originally developed for the military, but has since become widely used for civilian purposes.
With costs for new construction escalating, refurbishing existing facilities becomes an ever more attractive, if not necessary, prospect. Unfortunately, traditional procurement methods don't always provide facility planners with the quick response and bud
Nearly 3 million kilowatt-hours (kwh) of electric energy are anticipated to be saved at Casa Grande (Ariz.) Elementary School District from a recently implemented energy management and awareness program.