The current spate of school closures raises a number of issues, most of which reflect uncertainties that complicate the task of district leadership who must decide if shuttering facilities is the right way to address a hopefully temporary budget challenge
Fritz Edelstein compiles education news of note from the Department of Education, the Hill and other sources.
Ah, summer the concept is idyllic unless you're a school facilities manager, that is. In that case, you know you'll never get a summer vacation, simply because there are so many projects to be completed. What projects do facility m
Technologies used in a K-12 school might include a card access control system, defibrillator, fire alarm and life safety systems, mass notification systems for parents and video surveillance. Lower technology items might include exterior and interior ligh
Digital signage can be used for distributing dynamic, attention-grabbing information in real time. Wayfinding, emergency information, even entertainment -- digital signage technology offers a simple solution to static, traditional signage. Reduced costs a
The economic news for many public school districts has not been good lately; fewer dollars must be spread further across districts. Increasingly, support for public schools comes from outside, nonprofit education assistance organizations who provide a num
While a new facility may be the most large-scale way to bring a school completely up to date, many districts simply do not have the budget. Renovations may seem overwhelming at first, but by focusing on the building envelope, districts can make simple, st
With the influx of federal monies from the Recovery Act coming to an end, state budgets providing limited support to schools and districts still being strapped for cash, a number of new ideas to reduce costs are being considered some new, some old,
More and more school districts are overcoming their fears and turning to cloud computing's viable solutions because they are secure and cost effective and because it allows administrators to focus more on their core responsibilities and less o
When concrete is used as the primary building material for a school, the traditional method has been concrete masonry blocks of concrete stacked together with mortar, sometimes reinforced and grouted for added strength. But there are also a number
Thanks to seamless integration, West Orange was able to reduce the burden on its IT personnel and to cut maintenance and hardware expenditures. The technology provided tremendous benefits to labor- and paper-intensive processes throughout the district. In
Since it is impossible to separate the effect of the museum on the student from the museum setting itself, it is only natural that school administrators and educators might begin to consider how techniques used in designing museums might be incorporated i
In general, schools need to have at least three kinds of spaces classrooms, group collaboration spaces and commons spaces. The key to furnishing these spaces is to determine the instructional activity first, and then design the room layout and furn
There is no question that having a good education has a profound and positive impact on the individual student, the community, the labor market, the economy and the country. Not having an adequate education increases unemployment rates and decreases earni
Mass notification for parents has become an absolute necessity in K-12 schools. When a serious emergency strikes, reports quickly appear on television and the Internet based on the best available information. If you have paid attention to media reporting
Working with the facilities and construction professionals who support them, educators and administrators in school districts across the nation are striving to create high performance schools that use less energy, have a smaller environmental impact and c
Career education and high school academics have a history of being mixed together, but there are new methods of learning that offer students the well-rounded education and strong technical skills needed for the 21st-century job market and post-secondary e
The way we teach and learn has dramatically evolved during the past decade. And yet, too often, our school facilities lag behind our understanding of how to best educate our children. To truly take advantage of the benefits of STEM, New Tech and other typ
Though the media regularly reports how challenging is it for Republican and Democratic elected officials to solve problems together, there was recently an example of a school safety success story that can be attributed to both parties. The results of this
The benefits to utilizing sustainable planning, design and construction are numerous. A great example is found in River Crest Elementary: It provides an educational tool for eco-friendly behavior for the entire community, while simultaneously serving as a