Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
In a move to step-up its clean energy goals, the University of California (UC) has signed its first-ever wind energy contract. The deal represents the university’s largest renewable energy commitment to date in support of campus decarbonization. UC entered the 85 megawatt (MW) power purchase agreement with Pattern Energy, which is developing the 3,500 MW […]
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) have released the K-12 Bystander Reporting Toolkit, a new resource to support K-12 schools in strengthening school safety reporting programs and encouraging bystander reporting among students and the broader school community. The toolkit offers simple strategies and guidance K-12 […]
On May 10, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed school safety legislation into law and recognized the investment of more than $230 million to strengthen safety at public and private schools across the state. The measures are in response to a March shooting that killed three children and three adults at the Covenant School in Nashville. “Nothing is more […]
In a constantly changing world, the security and safety challenges schools face—as well as the ways in which schools can address those challenges—are also ever-changing. The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) has released the sixth edition of its Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools—a free resource that offers comprehensive information for school administrators, […]
Risk mitigation is the process of planning and developing options to reduce threats or risks to people. Resilience is the ability to learn, respond, reflect, and recover from emergencies. While risk mitigation activities are preventative, and resilience activities are reactive, both place serious responsibility on the shoulders of facilities management teams. What’s important in resilience […]
Nearly 4 in 10 educators surveyed in the United States are considering quitting. The reason? Gun violence. They don’t feel safe at work. That’s according to a new report from weapons detection company Evolv Technology and market research firm Equation Research. The inaugural report reveals that gun violence is taking a “significant toll” on educators, with […]
All school employees in Pennsylvania will receive three hours of safety and security training every year, at no charge to their schools, through a new program grant approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). “Every kid deserves to be safe and feel safe, whether they’re in the classroom, on the playing field, waiting […]
Will the kid gamers of today design the airports of tomorrow? The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) annual Airport Design Challenge took flight on April 1 and is open for enrollment. The challenge helps students design virtual airports using the Microsoft game Minecraft. Students studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) across the globe will meet aviation professionals […]
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the approval of 61 Smart Schools Investment Plans focused on reimagining education in an evolving age and boosting school security. The approved plans, totaling $31.4 million, are part of the $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act, a sweeping education technology program established in 2014. “Inefficient technology was a huge […]
The design of indoor and outdoor spaces has the power to shape not just how we use an area, but also how we feel about it. Design can help inform whether someone wants to meet friends or move through an area quickly. It can even discourage crime. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a […]