Tag: education

WVU Research on School Absences Links Dirty Air to Empty Desks

As the school year begins in many areas, new West Virginia University (WVU) research finds poor air quality may keep tens of thousands of students out of school for weeks each year, hitting young students and children of color the hardest. A study by Mustahsin Ul Aziz, a doctoral student in natural resource economics at the WVU Davis College of Agriculture […]

The Deferred Maintenance Crisis: How K-12 Districts Can Overcome a Growing Backlog

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. Recently, U.S. schools received a D+ grade on the 2025 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Infrastructure Report Card. This was disappointing, but to anyone who keeps tabs on K-12 facilities management, it likely […]

PASS Releases Updated Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools

The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) has released the seventh edition of its Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools, which offer comprehensive information on practices for securing school facilities from subject matter experts across the education, public safety, and industry sectors. The new release—including updates to the Safety and Security Guidelines and the School Safety and […]

Balancing Budget Constraints with Facility Needs in Schools

Across the United States, aging schools are in dire need of repair, and for many, patchwork maintenance is the only way to keep facilities operational as administrators and facilities managers balance limited budgets with pressing needs. School budgets are complex, and disparities in funding have become a topic of dispute in the state courts. The […]

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Survey Unlocks Insights on K-12 School Entrance Security

A new report highlights the concerns and challenges K-12 schools are facing in securing their entrances and keeping students and staff safe from potential threats. According to a survey released by Singlewire Software, only 17% of K-12 school staff members felt that their entrances were completely secure, and multiple challenges were cited for maintaining a […]

New Jersey School Worker Wins Custodian of the Year Contest

Congratulations to Dan Davis from Deerfield Elementary School in Short Hills, N.J.! After thousands of votes were submitted, Cintas Corp. has crowned him the 2025 grand prize winner of its annual Custodian of the Year contest. Dan was honored with a surprise ceremony by students, teachers, staff, and his family and was presented with a […]

The Real Story of Wildfire Smoke and Why It Matters for Schools and Hospitals

Wildfires may burn in specific regions, but their smoke is a global problem. It drifts across state lines, national borders, and even oceans—turning a localized crisis into a worldwide public health issue. Schools and hospitals, where vulnerable populations spend extended periods, are particularly susceptible to the long-lasting effects of wildfire smoke. The Hidden Danger of […]

Top Floor Care Challenges and Best Practices for Professionals

Floor care is continuous—from the moment a new floor is installed to its eventual replacement five, 10, or 20 years down the line, the work never stops. High foot traffic, tracking of water, dirt and debris, spills, stains, and more can significantly impact the appearance and longevity of any flooring. Floor care professionals are tasked […]

K-12 Teachers Are Worried About Classroom Air Quality

Teachers across the United States and Canada are deeply concerned about the quality of their classroom air and believe school districts must do more to address the issue. That’s according to the third annual Clean Air Survey of North American Educators from Fellowes. The study, which surveyed more than 1,200 K-12 teachers, underscores the critical role of clean air in […]

Top 4 School Security Tech Trends of 2025

In a recent school pilot, a robot patrolled Santa Fe High School around the clock to survey the sprawling campus for potential threats and send messages to authorities—even enabling a remote security team to question an intruder. Robots on school grounds are only one of many ways that American schools can keep students, staff, and […]