PreK-12 Ed


Signage: Getting It Right the First Time

Cleveland High School (CHS) in Rio Rancho, N.M., opened in the fall of 2009 — accommodating 2,350 students in grades nine through 12, with 410,848 gross square feet, and at a construction cost of $120,073,346. Oh, it also includes 675 room signs, app

K-12 Energy-Lite Lighting

K-12 schools across the country can cut electricity bills dramatically by retrofitting with energy efficient fluorescent lamps, adding occupancy sensors and implementing daylighting strategies where possible. In some schools, emerging LED technology can c

Improving Services

The Lean process has typically been utilized in the private sector to improve the bottom line, but maintenance organizations can also benefit from using it as a mechanism for change. Last year, a project was undertaken in the Virginia Beach City Schools S

The Key to Designing Specialty Spaces

With the development of new, better and more holistic teaching methods, the design of the learning spaces has become increasingly more important. The need for specialty spaces has created the opportunity for some very creative and effective spaces in a nu

Using Activated Water Sprayer Devices

Hand-held activated water spray devices are becoming popular in schools because they offer chemical-free, water-based, renewable cleaning along with sanitizing properties, while greatly reducing harmful environmental impacts. The technology is receiving e

Smart Cleaning

After experiencing 33 years of equipment and product evolution in the school industry, it is exciting to be in the front row of change in cleaning procedures. Smart cleaning, by its very nature, incorporates the new user-friendly equipment with environmen

Going Buggy?

You do not have to "put up with" ongoing pest problems. It's not rocket science. We've solved literally thousands of pest problems for good by using common sense to remove food, water and/or shelter, all three of which are required for

Small Districts Can Lose Out With Title I Weighting Formulas

Title I funds are supplemental funds designated to assist in educating disadvantaged and low-income students. A majority of the funds go to students in first through sixth grade, and they are supposed to be supplemental assistance, meaning the funds do no

Safe Passage Out

Sure, school administrators know about life safety, such as how to operate a command center and how to conduct a fire drill. And, of course, school facility managers know about life safety, such as how often to check the generator. But there's more,

Four Years Later…

A school benefits from a geothermal heating and cooling system.

Plugging Into the Earth

Despite a slow start in its early days, more school districts are embracing geothermal technology as a viable source of energy to power their school buildings. A growing interest in renewable energy, cost savings and popular sentiment against dependence o

What I Would Do With $100 Million

When I read that Mark Zuckerberg, who made billions starting Facebook, was giving $100 million to the Newark, N.J. Public Schools, I wondered how I would spend that money if I had the opportunity.

Green by Design

Ten years ago, many thought that the green buildings movement would be a passing phase. History will show that it is not. This is one movement that has the buy-in of all age groups, from the flower children of the '60s to the young children of today.

Computing Made Practical for K-12 Schools

The educational benefits promised to students by computer technology sounds irresistible: Computers can put the Web's virtually infinite research capabilities to work. Teachers can record assignments online; automate testing, create online pod-cast l

Why Can't All Schools Be Like This?

Whether here in the U.S. or in another country, we should all be deeply impressed with, and grateful for, those school employees of any job description who understand how important it is to make things happen FOR students, instead of letting things happen

Dreaming of Net Zero

Since buildings are responsible for nearly 50 percent of our energy consumption, we concluded that the school should be a model of energy efficiency — a place where children engage the intertwined ecological, social, political and economic realities

Windows and Doors

Windows and doors are such basic components of any building that it would be easy to assume that the choices are so standardized there wouldn't be much need for discussion or debate, especially in terms of questions such as energy efficiency and LEED cert

Green Doesn't Always Mean Non-Toxic

Unfortunately, what constitutes "green cleaning" isn't necessarily what constitutes "healthier cleaning" — despite the implication that the terms are interchangeable. In fact, some of the green cleaning products we assume are

Race to the Top Funds Help Spur Reform, May Offer Some Budget Relief

Phase 2 of Race to the Top funds winners were announced last month, along with the hope that these states will serve as trail blazers in school reform. We spoke with administrators about the importance of Race to the Top funds and what they hope they can

New Three R's in School Design

In recent years, however, school design has shifted to include some very modern thinking — how to create school buildings that not only reflect their surroundings, but also safeguard and respect the natural world around them. The principles of sustai

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