News
BUFFALO, N.Y.VLK Sets the Standard in Bridgeland
CYPRESS, Texas — VLK Architects beat out three competitors to design a new, $14.4 million elementary school at Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in Cypress, Texas.
Energy Savings Performance Contract Will Save District Thousands
YERINGTON, Nev. — Nevada’s fourth largest school district, Lyon County School District in Yerington, Nev., has entered into an Energy Savings Performance Contract that is expected to save the district $345,000 annually for 15 years.
The district signed the $3.6 million ESPC with Framingham, Mass.-based Ameresco, Inc., an energy efficiency company that has worked on renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout the country. The contract will focus on infrastructure upgrades to 19 schools and four administrative buildings that serve over 8,400 students.
Security in Schools
An outside consultant is often key in helping K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions choose the right security system for its campus’s needs.
Even with the vast array of sophisticated safety and security technology on the market for K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions, many security experts still agree there is no substitute for “boots on the ground.” A police officer or other security worker will always deter crime better than a camera.
Green Ribbon Schools Awarded by Obama Administration
WASHINGTON, D.C— Schools from around the country were recognized and honored by President Obama’s administration for being the first-ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools. The list includes 78 schools from 29 states—including Stoddert Elementary School in Washington D.C., where U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson announced the stand-out schools in April.
Technology Pinpoints School Maintenance Issues
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Unified School District has unveiled a new system intended to keep the nation’s second-largest school district up to date on maintenance issues throughout its 800 campuses.
The district is the first to create a maintenance smart phone application for students, faculty and staff. The user sends in a photo of the maintenance issue to IBM Maximo software, which manages the district’s physical assets and work orders. From there, the district’s facilities crews assess the situation and come up with a response.
Renovation and Expansion Project Begins at Mitchell Elementary
DALLAS — The renovation and expansion of Mitchell Elementary School in Dallas, Texas, is being led by Dallas-based Cadence McShane Construction Company and is slated for completion in August 2013.
Funding Our Future: Creative Financing Boosts School Construction
The Great Recession has left deep marks on the nation’s school system. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, elementary and high schools in at least 37 states are receiving less state funding this year compared to 2011. In at least 30 states, school funding now stands below 2008 levels — often far below. Limited federal fiscal aid and reduced state revenues are the main reasons for these drastic spending cuts.
Mass. School Closed Over Building Material Concern
MERRIMAC, Mass. — Dr. Frederick N. Sweetsir Elementary School temporarily shut down after construction workers discovered potentially hazardous material inside.
Asbestos was found during a renovation of windows as part of the state’s green improvements plan.
“The school was built in the early 1950s and we expected we’d find some asbestos — we just didn’t expect to find it there,” said Bob Sinibaldi, the town’s building inspector.
‘School of the Future’ Design Competition Finalists Announced
WASHINGTON — Six teams of middle-school students from across North America and the United Kingdom will travel to the Washington, D.C., to compete in the final leg of the School of the Future Design Competition, the centerpiece of School Building Week from April 23-27.