Maintenance & Operations


Woman taking the temperature of a child who is wearing a face mask and a backpack with a contactless thermometer.

Here’s What Designers and Architects Anticipate Schools Will Look Like in the Fall and After COVID-19

We asked designers and architects from across the country what they anticipate classrooms will look like in the fall if they were to reopen, how the coronavirus will impact school design in the long-term, and suggestions on design concepts schools can implement right away to help with social distancing in facilities. Their answers offer insight to available design options and possibilities that can help school leaders plan and make the best decisions for their students and staff.

Children in winter coats and hats wearing face masks and walking on sidewalk.

Living (and Learning) with COVID-19: Best Practices for Reopening Schools

While the attention so far has been focused mainly on ensuring that all students continue to receive a high-quality learning experience from home, leaders are now shifting their focus to how they can safely and responsibly reopen schools. Here are eight key suggestions for keeping students and staff safe when schools reopen.

A custodial worker using an electrostatic mister to clean an office.

Combating COVID-19 with Electrostatic Misters

This cleaning process provides more thorough coverage, essentially leaving no place for germs and pathogens, including those that cause COVID-19, to hide.

Handling Restroom Vandalism

Tips for Handling Restroom Vandalism

There may not be a good answer as to why restrooms are vandalized, but there are products and methods available to help with discouraging the act.

CIRI Science Symposium Focuses on Coronavirus Cleaning and Response

The Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) will host an all-day online science symposium focused on coronavirus cleaning and pandemic response on March 31.

Technology for Campus Parking Centers

Data-Driven: How Customer Service Platforms are Improving Campus Parking

What do your students complain about? Fair or not, parking is usually near the top of the list. To handle those complaints, many campuses are turning to parking-specific customer service platforms to support their automated parking operations.

Cleaning for COVID-19

COVID-19, Cleaning and Schools

School and campus administrators throughout North America are very concerned about coronavirus and its impact on their facilities, students, teachers and staff. And there is good reason.

Healthy Cleaning

A Response to COVID-19: Cleaning for Health

As coronavirus concerns mount, what should administrators and cleaning professionals know?

A custodian cart in front of a white wall.

Combating Coronavirus: Resources on Cleaning and Sanitizing Schools

<em>Spaces4Learning</em> has several resources on best practices for cleaning and sanitizing schools and maintaining healthy schools during peak flu season, which can be applied to the coronavirus. Here you'll find our top articles and a webinar on the subject to help you combat the spread of coronavirus.

Autonomous Shuttle Vehicle

Autonomous Technology: Transforming the College Experience

Autonomous shuttles could make transportation around campus easier for students, instructors, staff and visitors.

workers on lift cleaning windows

From Cradle to Grave: The Cost of a Building

When a system shows signs of failing, what is the most cost-effective course of action an owner should take? Does the owner replace the system or close the facility?

custodian cleaning wall

COVID-19 and The Custodial Training Component

Issues impacting the ability and training of cleaning contractors vary in different settings and situations. However, all of them must be overcome, and urgently, if we are going to get on top of the COVID-19 situation.

cleaning hand rails on staircase

Pandemic Response: Protecting Custodial Workers

Custodial workers must modify cleaning practices and behaviors to help reduce COVID-19 risks, not only for a building’s occupants, but especially for themselves.

Parking Guidance Systems

Simple Parking Guidance for Colleges and Universities

Parking guidance also offers tremendous administrative benefits to colleges and universities by keeping track of how their parking assets are being utilized.

Foul Odors Negatively Impact Schools and Colleges According to New Poll

When it comes to schools and colleges in particular, 55% of the survey-takers say a foul odor would negatively impact their perception of the educational institution.

UG2 Announces Top Green Cleaning Certification

The integrated facilities services company earned ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) and CIMS-Green Building (GB) certification.

cleaning

Healthy Cleaning

Can more effective cleaning reduce student absenteeism? The evidence seems to say that it can.

As the end of the calendar year (and the decade) draws near, the fall attendance numbers are in and many district leaders around the country are undertaking facilities and capacity reviews.

3 Key Practices to Preparing and Sharing a Facilities Review

Using a geographic information system helps school and district leaders connect disparate data sources and present their conclusions to their boards and communities.

Optimizing HVAC

The Simple Formula for Successful HVAC Optimization

Comprehensive scoping plus planning equals savings.

Burial Grounds Found on Tampa School Property

A Florida school board recently discovered nearly 150 unmarked graves on the property of King High School in Tampa, Florida after receiving a tip.

HSB Launches New IoT Solution for Schools

Hartford Steam Boiler, part of Munich Re, announced a new customized IoT solution for schools to protect buildings and equipment against water leaks, freezing pipes, mold and perishable goods spoilage.

Nominate Your Favorite Custodian for "Custodians Are Key" Contest

Tennant Company announced the launch of Custodians Are Key, a contest to recognize the work of K-12 custodians around the country and honors them and their school with a $15,000 prize. The contest started on Sept. 9 and will run until May 6, 2020.  

King William County Public Schools Projected to Save Millions in Operating Costs

Through ABM’s Energy Performance Contracting program, the customized solution is projected to save the school district close to $5 million in energy and operating costs over a 15-year period.

Global technology company, Epson debuted the Moverio Assist, a new augmented reality headset that lets field technicians and remote experts collaborate in real-time to accelerate repairs and complete tasks.

New Smart Glasses Offer Real-Time Collaboration for Faster Repairs

Global technology company, Epson debuted the Moverio Assist, a new augmented reality headset that lets field technicians and remote experts collaborate in real-time to accelerate repairs and complete tasks.

snow

Before the Snow Falls

Autumn is the ideal time to prepare structures for winter from roof to foundation. Undertaking routine inspections in the fall can prevent costly repairs in the future.

custodial

Educating Custodial Workers

Clean facilities are healthy and high-performing facilities. Ensuring that custodial workers are properly trained on equipment, supplies, and methods leads to more effective and successful workers and healthier facilities.