Tag: school safety

EPA Celebrates $34M in Grants to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Schools

By Joe Bebon, Editor Nov 11, 2024 Green Building

Updated: Nov 11, 2024

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 […]

Back to Basics: Combatting Winter Respiratory Disease Season with Indoor Air Quality

By Guy Burdick, Contributing Writer Nov 1, 2024 Back to Basics

Updated: Nov 1, 2024

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important but possibly overlooked information facilities management professionals should know. Now that fall has arrived, are you ready for this year’s winter respiratory disease season? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections will lead to a […]

Pennsylvania Awards Schools $175M for Facility Improvements

By Joe Bebon, Editor Oct 24, 2024 Design and Construction

Updated: Oct 24, 2024

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 […]

Top 3 Areas to Improve School Security with Electronic Access Control

By Melany Whalin, Allegion Oct 23, 2024 Access Control

Updated: Oct 23, 2024

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 […]

DHS Expects Threat of Foreign and Domestic Terrorism to ‘Remain High’ in 2025

By Joe Bebon, Editor Oct 11, 2024 Emergency Preparedness

Updated: Oct 11, 2024

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment (HTA), which expects the threat of foreign and domestic terrorism in the United States to “remain high” over the coming year. DHS also highlighted resources available to help combat potential threats. The annual HTA provides the public and officials with a detailed report on […]

Feds Offer K-12 School Guidance to Address ‘Scourge of Anonymous Threats’

By Joe Bebon, Editor Oct 1, 2024 Emergency Preparedness

Updated: Oct 1, 2024

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released the Anonymized Threat Response Guidance: A Toolkit for K-12 Schools, a new resource to help K-12 schools and their law enforcement and community partners create tailored approaches to addressing anonymous threats of violence, including those received on social media. The toolkit outlines steps school leaders can take to […]

How Do We Stop These School Shootings?

By Greg Shaffer, Founder, Shaffer Security Group Sep 17, 2024 Emergency Preparedness

Updated: Sep 17, 2024

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. The senseless killing of two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in rural Georgia on Sept. 4 once again begs the question, “How do we stop these school shootings?” It seems we […]

EPA Funds $34M to Improve Indoor Air Quality at Schools

By Joe Bebon, Editor Aug 28, 2024 Green Building

Updated: Aug 28, 2024

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected five groups to receive $34 million in grants for projects helping address indoor air pollution in K-12 schools in low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities across the country. This announcement comes after the agency revealed $26 million in funding to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools […]

College Campus Fire Stats and Safety Tips for the New School Year

By Joe Bebon, Editor Aug 20, 2024 Emergency Preparedness

Updated: Aug 20, 2024

As the new school year approaches, college students nationwide are preparing to move into campus dormitories and off-campus housing. Through their annual “Campus Fire Safety for Students” campaign in September, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) want to ensure students, parents, and campus housing staff and administrators have the relevant information and resources […]

Pennsylvania Offers Schools $120M for Security Upgrades, Mental Health Support

By Joe Bebon, Editor Aug 16, 2024 Access Control

Updated: Aug 16, 2024

As students and teachers return to classrooms across the country, school safety is top of mind. In Pennsylvania, schools and other eligible entities are now able to apply for $120 million in grant funding to make physical security upgrades and strengthen behavioral health support. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) School Safety and Security Committee […]