Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Wilkes County Schools (WCS) has become the first school district in Georgia with an all-green school bus fleet, serving its 25 daily bus routes exclusively with zero- and ultra-low-emission buses. Blue Bird Corp. recently delivered five electric and 12 propane-powered school buses to the district. WCS said its new fleet will significantly improve air quality for students and […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has opened applications for the 2025 Renew America’s Schools Prize, which will offer $90 million for facility upgrades that improve health, safety, and energy costs in K-12 public schools across America. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this third round of funding builds on $178 million awarded in 2023 and […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that 70 applicants across 27 states, three Tribal Nations, and one territory have been tentatively selected to receive over $735 million to assist in the purchase of over 2,400 zero-emission vehicles through its first-ever Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program. The majority of the funding will go toward adopting […]
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has awarded $12 million in School Security Equipment Grants to 96 school divisions and 472 schools to help protect students, faculty and staff, and visitors. Virginia is one of many states throughout the country, including Pennsylvania, New York, Louisiana, and Missouri, that have invested millions of dollars into school security amid rising concerns about safety. “Every child […]
From bullying to tragic shootings, school violence is a threat facing every community across the country. Statewide school safety tip lines, currently offered in over 20 states, can play a major role in helping protect students and staff. In fact, officials from Texas and Wisconsin recently revealed encouraging stats about their respective programs. Texas The […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) celebrated $34 million in Inflation Reduction Act grants awarded to five organizations to help school districts across the country improve indoor air quality (IAQ). EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz recently joined the grantees at Horatio B. Hackett School in Philadelphia to congratulate them on their awards, underscore the importance of IAQ, and highlight previous school efforts. “EPA is proud to […]
Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. Mass Timber Government Facility As more companies and organizations embrace sustainability, there’s been a rise in green construction materials for facility projects. General contractor McCarthy + Barnsley, A Joint Venture, recently topped out the Brookhaven City Centre, […]
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that the Commonwealth Financing Authority has approved 208 investments in school projects, totaling $175 million, under the new Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program. Launched earlier this year as part of the 2023-24 state budget, the new program provides grants of up to $5 million to public school districts and career […]
Securing K-12 school buildings is a critical responsibility for facilities managers. With increasing concerns about school safety, implementing electronic access control (EAC) systems has become a best practice. A layered security approach, starting from the outside and moving inward, is recommended to ensure comprehensive protection. This method enhances security and allows for phased implementation, making […]
More than three-quarters of Americans believe that period supplies should be available free-of-charge at public schools and public universities, according to a new poll conducted by YouGov for the Alliance for Period Supplies. The findings come as public facilities across the country are increasingly required to provide access to menstrual products and address period poverty. The survey […]