School district decision-makers face a multitude of challenges, but possibly one of the biggest responsibilities they are charged with is creating schools that offer productive learning environments while being fiscally responsible to tax payers. They wan
With the recent passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, school districts nationwide have an unprecedented opportunity to construct new high-performance schools and modernize existing facilities to significantly decrease energy consumption a
Building Green and educational environments for special-needs students.
I do not know how many Astroturf or similar playing fields are still in existence, but the original enthusiasm has declined, in part because of the hardness of the playing surface. But the problem that Astroturf seemed to solve the overuse and dete
Our current economic climate has affected numerous areas in education, including libraries. Districts have less money to go around, but their libraries may find some relief through money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Sure price matters, but it's not the most important factor when making furniture purchases. Purchasing managers keep a lot of different balls in the air when deciding what to get and from whom. If your school is buying in the future, here are some fa
The technology for effectively cleaning carpets and rugs has been in place, or so it might be assumed, for many decades. However, in 2000, the Dalton, GA-based Carpet and Rug Institute, Inc., responding to customer complaints, made some startling discover
I may be a little biased when it comes to supporting music and the arts, but with good reason. I spent my happiest (and most productive) days in college as a part of a performing group, the I-Uppers. Our director, Leonard DeFabo (head of IUP's psycho
Video analytics systems make security officers proactive. The technology sees potential safety or security problems as they take shape and alerts a security officer who evaluates the situation and decides to intervene or not. It transforms video surveilla
Schools are no longer equipped with the old gun where you pull the lever and hear bells ringing all over. Instead, today's schools are outfitted with technology-rich public address systems, intercom systems, and clocks that keep lines of communicatio
As our culture embraces the concept of reuse or recycling in its many forms, it is only appropriate to focus on how some school districts have tapped the creativity of board members, architects, and/or planners to restore, renovate, or rebuild some their
It's time we take an honest look at the factors that got us to this point. But in the meantime, we need to stop pointing fingers and start taking action. I had high hopes for the economic stimulus package, but as of this writing I'm not all that
The paradoxical problem of communicating in gymnasiums is that when the message is loud enough to be heard, it's often too loud to be understood. The right design, with appropriate balances of reflective and absorbent materials, could eliminate acoustic p
Areas experiencing declining enrollments are presented with both opportunities and challenges. Declining enrollments permit districts to implement desired program changes that were formerly not possible. Conversely, districts are faced with making the mos
Part of a school's appeal is based on its reputation for providing a safe, secure, and convenient environment for its staff and students. An administrator's attention to fire and life safety systems should enhance the school's status withou
What can schools implement now to already existing facilities that will lower their energy costs and move them toward being green? While few schools in the United States are officially labeled "green" construction, there are many s
School districts are facing a series of unpleasant and difficult fiscal choices in this current recessionary environment. Given the recent steep spikes in gas and food prices, now is the time for some creative thinking as to how best to manage the preciou
Signed by President Obama Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) is intended to help with economic recovery. While we continue to receive updates on the ARRA in the form of press releases and through the news abo
2009 heralds the implementation of the much-anticipated evolution of the United States Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating system. This overhaul incorporates eight years of user feedback
By the time this issue is in your hand, the nation will have inaugurated its 44th President, Barack Obama. Prior to being sworn into office, he announced that he would implement an economic stimulus package that, among a number of other things, would incl