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
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
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&
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
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.
While the overall performance of the envelope contributes to good indoor air quality (IAQ), major chapters of the CHPS design guide detail techniques used to control the infiltration of outside air and moisture through the envelope and into the building.
The question from school district administrators, for themselves and for parents, might be: Is the assistive technology a child is using outdated, and could it be replaced by a device with improved/more features?
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
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 their new building or renovation project
While most school districts have athletic programs that are as second nature as academics, even braving reduced budgets in recent years to keep their programs running, it's possible to improve on the tried-and-true. Here, a number of experts offer th
Preserving existing revenues is an essential component of the work of school business officials. The broad ranges of activities that can affect school district revenues make identifying potential threats difficult. By understanding the issues that affect
While the title has changed from fire drill to emergency evacuation drill, the goal of the drill has not. Drills are held to practice evacuating a building when there is no real threat to life safety so that when there is a threat, building occupants will
The average cost of electricity rose more than 40 percent over the last 10 years, presenting a rising cost for today's schools. As a result, many school districts are exploring ways to improve financial performance by investing in energy-efficient bu
The $787 billion Stimulus Act includes $115 billion for education. As much as $80 billion of that money could pay for technology in K-12 schools. Scheduled for disbursement during this year and next, the ARRA K-12 technology money represents a once-in-a-l
Building Information Modeling (BIM) has stormed into the nation's design and construction world. The Government Services Administration (GSA) requires BIM for government buildings. The Army Corps of Engineers requires BIM for its projects. In July, W
With the increasing disconnection between natural and built environments, students in high performance schools experience how healthy, green building can create a more symbiotic relationship between the natural world and constructed spaces.