Facilities & Security

Translating the Data: Ensuring Your Capital Planning Funds Are Cost Effective

Date & Time: Wednesday, December 4 at 2 p.m. ET

In this 30-minute DA Ed Talk, administrators will gain helpful advice on turning facilities data into actionable insights to avoid a common challenge in K-12 where districts increasingly struggle with translating data into effective capital planning decisions.

***Attendees will be able to safely download an Asset Investment Planning (AIP) Infographic and a comprehensive guide for capital planning, budgeting, and asset management.

Sensory rooms: See this district’s innovative new models

Here's one rule for creating a powerful K12 sensory room: It doesn't necessarily have to pop on Pinterest. It only has to appeal to students and teachers who will rely on the space to provide a calming break from regular school day activities.

School Renewal: Accessing New Funding for Facilities and Energy Projects

Date & Time: Tuesday, June 11th at 2 pm ET

In this 20-minute DA Ed Talk, an advisor from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs and an education facilities expert from Trane will discuss how to access and use newly available funding from the federal government to finance much-needed school facilities improvements in any district.

Leaders forced to close more schools by 2 big concerns

Wichita Public Schools in Kansas will close six schools to cover a $42 million budget shortfall as San Francisco's superintendent declares "We must have fewer schools than we do now."

3 ways to get even more done when managing K12 facilities

School facility upgrades can close about 10% of the achievement gap between high- and low-wealth school districts, while also increasing property values for the surrounding communities.

Many school buildings are more outdated than their computers

We're not going to string you along with a lot of build-up here (pun intended): The average age of schools in the U.S. is nearly 50 and more than a third of the buildings were built before 1970.

Funding the community’s use of school facilities: A fresh perspective

If community groups aren’t covering the entire cost of their facility use, exactly who makes up the difference? The answer is the school district.

4 signs that your school needs a media center upgrade

Elements like soft and flexible seating can transform a media center into a space that engages the whole school community.

Tech leadership in 2023-24: Funding and facilities are top priorities

Here's one of the top messages for K12 tech leadership in 2023-24 that bears repeating: You really do have a role to play in every aspect of your district's operations. For example, the cafeteria refrigerators—and the infrastructure that surrounds them—may need your attention.

How multipurpose facilities are shaping the future of k-12 education

Multipurpose facilities support continuous student development and allow programs to be implemented exactly as they were designed to be.

5 ways to create a more functional and inviting teachers’ lounge

Our new teacher’s lounge serves as a “safe place” where teachers can go to unwind and discuss what’s happening at school and in their personal lives.

Dangerous levels of radioactive waste detected at Missouri elementary school

Nuclear waste from World War II bomb manufacturing was dumped into a river near the school and was detected in samples from the library, classrooms, kitchen, playgrounds and fields.

How a storm-tossed school district is swiftly coming back online after Florida hurricane

"When schools are up and going, the community can get back to normal more quickly," says Collier County Superintendent Kamela Patton.

What is swatting? A scary hoax that is putting schools on high alert

False reports of active shooters have caused lockdowns, disruptions and high anxiety at dozens of schools in several states this week.

First day of school? Nationwide heat waves say ‘not so fast’

Another year and there's another reason to cancel classes—soaring school heat worsened by faulty or non-existent air-conditioning.

Preparation and training–not metal detectors–make students safer, expert says

Recent tragedies have led district leaders across the U.S. to consider better options to increase student safety in their schools. But others question if "hardening" schools will be enough to end mass shootings.

How to prepare your school for the end of free meal waivers this fall

Students will continue to eat free lunch this summer but, unless there is further Congressional action, districts will soon face the heavy administrative lift of K-12 food service.

ESSER ideas: 2 ways to boost learning with healthier schools

Tutoring and other academic interventions are not the only ways to boost student learning with your district's ESSER relief funding.

Schools can serve free meals this summer but that may change (again) in 2022-23

Pandemic-era flexibilities will change during the new school year even as eligibility for free- and reduced lunch is expanded and reimbursements increase.

3 most popular school ventilation improvements are masking disparities

There are steps underresourced district leaders can take–and steps they can urge local officials to take–to get the needed HVAC improvements made.

How digital maps are making schools in this state safer

Virginia is making $6.5 million in reimbursements available for districts to create interactive digital maps that can be more easily accessed by responders during a crisis.

75% of ESSER dollars are unspent and deadlines are approaching

ESSER funds offer schools a unique opportunity to both respond to the pandemic and tackle the backlog of deferred maintenance.

$500 million worth of help coming for cleaner schools and buses

Building Better School Infrastructure grants will support energy- and cost-saving redesigns and help districts transition to electric school buses.

K-12 groups blast loss of free meals while some praise spending package

Loss of free universal meal waivers will "devastate school meal programs" and is a "worst-case scenario" for children nationwide, anti-hunger advocates and education leaders say.

How to invest school stimulus money and protect energy costs

Now that the most pressing concerns are being addressed, it's time for administrators to begin thinking long-term about how to use the funds to improve their schools beyond this school year.

Attleboro High School: Lighting the way for 21st century campuses

One recent study found that over one school year, students who were exposed to more sunlight during their school day displayed 26 percent higher reading outcomes and 20 percent higher math outcomes.

Superintendents share lessons learned after challenging start to 2021-22

Strong leadership and communication have been critical to administrative offices and all staff throughout schools.

Designing a safe school requires more than just built solutions

Preparation, partnerships, and social programs are paramount to maintaining the quality and safety of the educational environment.

Build back later? Progress on bill with education provisions stalled until ’22

In a statement released Dec. 16, President Biden said negotiations will "continue next week," adding that "it takes time to finalize these agreements, prepare the legislative changes, and finish all the parliamentary and procedural steps needed to enable a Senate vote."

Build Back Better Act approved by House has millions for CTE, teacher training

Build Back Better bill includes $112 million each for school leadership and teacher development and funding for universal pre-K and free school meals.

Broadband access and student safety are getting billions from infrastructure plan

Law that Biden signed Monday funds safe routes to school programs, expanded broadband access, green school buses and removal of lead pipes that supply drinking water to schools,

How to remain vigilant in the fight to provide safe drinking water in schools

While most parents of school-aged children understand the danger to their children of lead in drinking water, only about half know the last time their school drinking water was tested for lead, study shows.

Here comes the ‘twindemic’: Will COVID plus the flu wreak holiday havoc?

These 5 measures can help school districts be proactive in avoiding a disastrous situation.

6 actions district leaders should promote to keep lead out of drinking water

Most states help schools test drinking water for lead but inconsistent decontamination efforts may be putting children at risk, a new report finds.

$1.2 trillion infrastructure plan looks like another windfall for schools

Bill funds removal of lead pipes that supply drinking water to schools, safe routes to schools programs, expanded broadband access, and clean school bus programs.