COVID

Pandemic Products for Schools!

This section is helping to meet your school’s needs to keep your staff and students safe and to help ease your worries.

Hand sanitation stations, cleaners, air purification, maintenance and cleaning supplies, signs telling students where to stand, manuals for compliance to the CDC recommendations, or social distancing partitions…it is all overwhelming, but here is a place to start. (Be sure to scroll down for COVID-related articles.)

Aleddra LED Lighting

Aleddra’s award-winning Air-Sanitizing Desktop Lamp uses an internal filter coated with ViraPure, a high-density photocatalyst material that is activated by the LED light source in the lamp. This Air-Sanitizing Desktop Lamp is an effective, sustainable, and hazard-free product that can give your teachers and staff additional peace of mind by providing the extra protection against air-transmitted viruses, including coronavirus. Third-party test shows 99.5% kill rate against H1N1 influenza virus. www.aleddra.com

Palmer Hamilton

The Getzen collection, the latest addition to Palmer Hamilton’s outdoor furniture series, increases seating capacity and supports social distancing. Palmer Hamilton is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of immersive spaces, both indoor and outdoor. They produce quality furniture products for market applications in K-12 education. Crafted with weather-resistant materials, the Getzen collection is ideal for outdoor seating at schools. www.palmerhamilton.com

LumAware’s ClearGuard Series

Students and teachers are significantly safer in schools with ClearGuard Desk Guard kits to reduce infection risks, easing COVID infection fears in schools currently holding in-person classes and those about to return to them. The see-through barriers have a white border that kids can customize with markers or stickers and divide spaces in a classroom, library or cafeteria. www.lumawaresafety.com

AmpliVox

The Coronavirus pandemic has elevated the need for urgent communications, including audible public announcements. AmpliVox Sound Systems’ complete line of high-quality, megaphones, horn-style hailers, and portable PA systems can reach audiences from 10 to 7,500, indoors or out, or dispersed people currently separated by social distancing. ww.ampli.com

Listen Technologies

Listen Technologies Corporation has announced a private channels feature in Listen EVERYWHERE. The new feature is part of a firmware upgrade to Listen EVERYWHERE, the award-winning wireless system that streams audio and customized content directly to smartphones and smart devices. Listen EVERYWHERE private channels provide a convenient way for venues to create confidential, password-protected audio channels on their networks. www.listentech.com

Ferco Seating

The EasyGlide desk has a stylish aesthetic that belies its ingenious design. It can be easily operated to move the table smoothly around a space, is extremely light, and is maneuverable in any direction. The patented retractable wheels mean that when not in use the table is stable on flat feet. The desk’s lightweight design and folding capabilities give teachers great autonomy in the way they design their classrooms. www.fercoseating.com

BenQ

BenQ is helping schools worldwide solve the barriers to in-class, hybrid, and full-remote learning. The chosen solution of private and public schools, BenQ’s RP02 Series Education 4K UHD interactive flat panels (IFP) are the world’s only display solution to feature a certified antimicrobial touchscreen to keep in-class use safe as well as easy-to-use cloud-based collaboration tools that ensure students are engaged and successful. www.benq.com

Rockford Systems

GermBlock shields provide a physical barrier to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus by blocking airborne droplets while promoting social distancing. Attaching the castor kit to a GermBlock floor-mount shield allows one person to quickly move the shield wherever it is needed, therefore minimizing the number of shields the school needs to purchase. www.rockfordsystems.com

GTech

Having to hire professional cleaners to disinfect every nook and cranny can get costly, but schools can use GTech Clean to quickly and efficiently kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on surfaces, including COVID. The EPA-approved spray leaves a microscopic barrier on hard and soft surfaces that continues to kill bacteria and viruses for up to five days. www.gtechprotection.com

Electra Tarp

Electra Tarp’s custom divider curtains offer a barrier for separating spaces. Available in a variety of material choices, including clear see-through options for social distancing barriers. All vinyl curtains can be easily cleaned with approved disinfectants. Divider curtains are a low-cost, easy alternative to permanent walls. www.electratarp.com

National Bus Sales

National Bus Sales’ O2 Fresh Technology Systems utilize the latest in air disinfection and cleaning technologies. This system helps to create a safer traveling environment for passengers and employees by employing HEPA filtration and ultra-violet light disinfection. www.fresh-air.tech

Dynamic Air Quality Solutions

COVID-19 guidelines recommend MERV13 or better air filtration. The Dynamic V8 delivers MERV15 performance, removing ultrafine particles, viruses, and odors. Its low pressure drop makes it ideal for retrofitting into existing HVAC systems. And it consumes 2/3 less fan energy than MERV14 filters with maintenance intervals measured in years. www.DynamicAQS.com

WS Communications

Major changes are coming to the American school day. Social distancing guidelines and isolated classrooms present challenges to collaboration and emergency preparedness. Thankfully, Kenwood’s NX-P500 ProTalk two-way radios make it easy to stay connected from anywhere on campus. The NX-P500 is powerful, durable and made to last all day. www.wscommunications.com

Kay Park

In a post-pandemic world, social distancing may become the new normal. Kay Park Recreation’s suggestions for enforcing social distancing at events include adding more seating to allow space for fans to spread out in family groups, adding tape markings and signage to bleachers where people can sit together with enough distance between groups. www.kaypark.com

Draper

The Clarity Shield is a cleanable, clear vinyl barrier designed to help prevent cross contamination between individuals in a confined place. A configurable hinge design allows for a multitude of applications. Optional feet allow space to pass paperwork and other items below the clear barriers. In addition to the four tabletop models, a mobile standup unit is available. www.draperinc.com

Paragon Furniture

Clear Student Desk Dividers are a great solution for safe classroom activity. This divider is a Set Top, impermanent partition featuring a 6mm thick colorless Acrylite non-hazardous vertical surface. Simple on/off desk top design provides maximum flexibility. Designed for end users trying to support safe social distancing while maintaining feel and function of an open learning environment. www.paragoninc.com

New Pig

New Pig has introduced the Shoe Sanitizer Floor System, an all-in-one system that provides the opportunity to safely remove dirt and debris, sanitize, and dry shoes upon entry to virtually any facility. Simply fill mat tray with preferred disinfecting solution and immerse the soles of shoes and scrub. While the non-slip rubber scrapers remove dirt, contaminants and germs, the adhesive-backed runner absorbs any disinfectant overflow or splashes to provide a safe walk-off surface. www.newpig.com

Just Manufacturing

Portable hand washing stations can help meet the healthcare standards for schools. Many classrooms do not have access to a traditional sink with hot and cold running water. With these portable hand washing stations, facilities are able to immediately and easily expand hand washing capabilities to help prevent the spread of pathogens and provide a positive hand washing experience while allowing convenient hand washing anywhere. www.justmfg.com

Nightlock Sneeze Guards

Nightlock has designed easy-to-use protective germ shields. With ever-evolving epidemics, diseases, and general bacteria and viruses, you can never be too careful. The purpose behind these protective germ shields is to prevent the airborne contaminants from passing from individual to individual. These physical barriers add an extra blanket of security to your institution. www.nightlock.com

Kaivac

No-Touch Cleaning Systems from Kaivac are designed to thoroughly remove contaminants in order to eliminate odors and reduce the risk of contamination. Available in a variety of models, each machine combines automatic chemical metering and injection, an indoor pressure washer, and a powerful wet vacuum into an integrated system. www.kaivac.com

Screenflex

As your school reopens, help address social distancing and CDC guidelines with versatile Screenflex Portable Dividers. These U.S.A. quality made dividers are available in a host of heights and lengths. Different lines are available in Clear Acrylic, Fabric, Vinyl, Dry Erase and Magnetic Dry Erase finishes. www.screenflex.com

AmpliVox

New acrylic safety shields help protect single or multiple individuals from airborne viruses. Perfect for auditoriums, fellowship halls, meeting rooms, check-in stations, etc. See-through shields made in the USA of rugged 1/4” acrylic, and easily installed. There are models for lecterns & pulpits, as well as models for tables or any flat surface. www.ampli.com

5 Key Indoor Air Quality Issues in Schools

October 3, 2022 | School Safety & Security

By Regina Vaicekonyte In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, many schools across the nation are now prioritizing IAQ and ventilation. The Center for Green Schools recently published a report detailing indoor air quality measures schools have implemented in response to the pandemic. The study found that among the 47 school districts and independent schools

Furnishing the Outdoor Classroom

May 26, 2022 | School Facilities & Campus

By Pat McNamara What better way to bring to life what kids are learning about inside the classroom than to bring them outdoors where they can spread out, get creative, and truly experience learning? The pandemic created a need for kids to social, or rather physical, distance from each other. As such, outdoor learning

It’s Time to Go Touchless

May 25, 2022 | School Facilities & Campus

As the world continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials have kept up messaging that focuses on the importance of handwashing to prevent the spread of disease. Since hand drying is just as critical as handwashing to curtailing the transmission of dangerous viruses and bacteria, a pertinent question remains: should you

K-12 Safety Experts Share Tips for Creating Safer Christian Schools

March 18, 2022 | School Safety & Security

By Shannon Zaher Christian schools are blessed with a great sense of community and parental involvement that most other schools could only envy. However, when it comes to campus and student security, familiarity can have the negative side effect of creating a false sense of security. As most school leaders know, Christian schools are

Why Schools Need Professional Cleaning Services After COVID-19

January 21, 2022 | School Facilities & Campus

With professional cleaning services, staff and students can be safer from infection and go to school each day with genuine peace of mind. Every school can benefit from hiring professionals. In order to make a decision, it’s important to fully understand what those benefits are. The first benefit is straightforward, but it can also

Key Capabilities to Improve Communication

January 20, 2022 | School Technology

By Peter Steinfeld Effective communication in schools is more challenging than ever. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the ability to keep students and staff safe, and schools also face increases in severe weather events, violence, and more. For administrators, staying up to date on each of these threats and notifying a large

Cleaning. Sanitizing. Disinfecting.

January 20, 2022 | School Facilities & Campus

The pandemic has blurred the lines between cleaning and disinfecting. They are two separate processes; however, they are now the same in the mind of the building occupant/user. COVID has wholly changed how “clean” is looked at in an educational environment. Clean is now not just viewed as “tidy”—it is now viewed as “safe.”

Modular Classroom Design Trends

January 20, 2022 | School Facilities & Campus

The pandemic has been a disruptive trendsetter. Schools are already moving in a new direction with innovative, future-proof classrooms that transition learning environments for a new era of learning. For a long time, new schools looked a lot like old schools. Change was gradual as learning evolved with technology and design shifted to support

Huddle Spaces: Changing How Teachers Manage a Classroom

November 23, 2021 | School Classroom

By Bari Gersten The pandemic has transformed the way we work and learn. As educators who are committed to preparing students to enter the workforce, it makes sense that the way we teach has also changed since the pandemic. The past 18 months have reinforced the need for every student to have their own

3 Ways to Make Your Social Distancing Signs More Effective

November 23, 2021 | School Safety & Security

By Amy Servi How can you make your school more safe and sanitary for all? One way is to make sure your social distancing signs and products are exactly where they should be to effectively reach as many people as possible. In this article, we’ll walk you through the all-too-common issues with current social

Flexibility: The New Movement in Classroom Design

September 23, 2021 | School Classroom, School Furniture

By Melissa Potter Reminiscing about the first days of kindergarten or elementary brings that familiar song back, the one that includes this line: “…we’re all in our places with bright shining faces.” What a difference a few decades have made. As classroom teachers and instructional leaders have planned for the opening of schools in

Clean Air, a 21st Century Dilemma

September 22, 2021 | School Facilities & Campus

By Andrew Desmarais A lot has changed over the last 18 months. If we’re lucky, one of those changes will be our conviction, approach and investment in opportunities to improve indoor air quality (IAQ). Breathing clean air has implications not only in schools but across the built environment. From pathogen mitigation to improved cognition

Reimagining Learning Spaces This New School Year

July 23, 2021 | School Classroom, School Furniture

By Eileen Roybal Surviving the “EdVenture” that was 2020 lands stakeholders in a unique situation to take advantage of an opportunity to reimagine learning spaces. Choosing the proper desking and seating is a great place to start. Desks and chairs are often the first things people notice when entering an educational space. And, after

Returning Back to School While Keeping Kids Healthy and Safe

July 23, 2021 | School Facilities & Campus

As we prepare to for students to return to school and to re-enter this “new normal” of post-pandemic life, it is important to consider the impact that cleanliness can play in creating successful faculty, students and community. Younger children are more likely to touch their face, and other surfaces, than adults, which makes it

Putting to Bed Some Sacred Cows of Fundraising

July 22, 2021 | School Finance & Fundraising

Over our years of fundraising experience, we’ve encountered some common misperceptions about why and how people give – and what motivates them to do so. Let’s tuck some of these into bed for a long-needed rest. “Planned giving is too complicated.” No, planned giving can be quite simple. To launch a simple bequest program,

Pandemic-Friendly Safety and Security in School Buildings

May 25, 2021 | School Safety & Security

By Erin Werra Two truths remain as educators continue to navigate the pandemic: change is constant, and so is their unyielding commitment to student and staff safety. Schools are (rightfully) in different stages of hybrid, virtual, or in-person learning. As we all move toward the goal of reuniting all students safely in classrooms, let’s

Furnishing Your School’s Exterior

May 24, 2021 | School Facilities & Campus

By Angela Maloney Outdoor spaces can offer a place to play, to work, to explore, to connect and to learn. After a year of changing guidelines and imposed restrictions, the outdoors have become more important than they ever have been and perhaps should always be. Are your school facilities and exterior spaces equipped with

How to Choose the Right Projector for Your Classroom

May 24, 2021 | School AVL

By Ryan Pitterle As administrators and teachers prepped classrooms for the 2020-2021 school year, they were forced to reimagine everything. From removing unnecessary furniture from the classroom to putting desks 6 feet apart, there was no handbook for how to set up a socially distanced classroom. Yet, teachers had to make it happen, and,

Tips for Sanitizing Your School Buses

March 19, 2021 | Transportation & Travel

It has never been more important to diligently clean and sanitize your school buses than during the current pandemic. It is easy to remember to clean surfaces, yet we often forget about the larger issue, the cabin air. The tiniest particles of virus and bacteria remain suspended in the air for a long time and

Indoor Air Quality Trends for COVID Reentry

March 19, 2021 | School Facilities & Campus

By Robert F. Goodfellow The current COVID-19 pandemic has placed a lot of emphasis on indoor air quality. With respect to HVAC systems, experts have stressed increasing outdoor ventilation air, MERV 13 or better air filtration, and use of portable air cleaners and germicidal UVC lights. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a complex issue.

Strategies for Student Engagement During and After COVID-19

January 25, 2021 | School Furniture

By John Myers Communities across the country are faced with many challenges as they re-open their schools in a COVID-19 world. As a designer and manufacturer of furniture solutions for learning environments, we care deeply about the well-being of today’s students and the amazing educators who lead and guide them. We understand the value

How Modular Classrooms Can Help with Social Distancing

January 25, 2021 | School Facilities & Campus

Modular buildings have been a solution for overcrowding in schools for years. With many schools returning with in-person or face-to-face learning, the need for additional space is more important than ever. Modular classrooms offer a temporary solution with all the comforts of a regular classroom, and we have developed solutions for not only additional

7 Expert Predictions for the Future of Learning in 2021

January 22, 2021 | School Technology

2020 put the U.S. education system to the test in every way possible. Ask any teacher, student, administrator, or parent of school-aged kids, and they’ll tell you that school is vastly different than it was pre-COVID-19. “The pandemic challenged nearly everything our institutionalized education system knows about how to teach, learn, and empower students,”

Access Control to Support a Touchless Environment

January 22, 2021 | School Safety & Security

By Rick Focke Protecting students and staff inside and on school property has been at the forefront of the security industry, as the entire industry has worked diligently to implement new policies and additional security technologies to prevent mass shootings, stop vandalism and bullying, and detect students who are vaping on school property. Overall,

Implementing Safety Graphics

January 1, 2021 | School Facilities & Campus

As schools begin to reopen their classrooms for in-person learning, educators must adapt new safety practices and protocols such as: Placing social distancing signage throughout their facility Creating emergency and contingency plans in case of infection Securing hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for their campus Instituting new cleaning procedures Mandating face masks and desk

What Can Schools Learn About Effective Sanitation from Food Manufacturing?

November 24, 2020 | School Facilities & Campus

By Bob Ogren This back-to-school season will go down in history. Eyes around the nation were fixated on schools as administrators and board members made decisions about re-opening plans in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Private Christian schools played a big role in the return to school, in part because some families needed

Whiteboards in the Post-Pandemic School Environment

November 24, 2020 | School Classroom

Schools are a great leveler. Students have the same desk, work together in the same classrooms, and use the same facilities and technologies on campus. On the other hand, students without access to ideal or sufficient set-ups at home can often find digital learning less productive and more troublesome than going to school in

Staying Safe and Healthy with Social Distancing

November 24, 2020 | School Safety & Security

“Social distancing” is a relatively new term implemented by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) encouraging individuals to maintain two arms’ length, or 6 feet, of distance between one another. Some studies have shown this distance to be sufficient in stopping the spread of germs from person to person. Another form of social distancing

A Flexible Solution

September 22, 2020 | School Furniture

By John-Paul Nelson Schools all over the world have undergone massive changes in the last several months, and uncertainty seems to be the only constant. Temporary shutdowns that were supposed to last a few weeks turned into full-blown campus closures, and a shift to distance learning became the norm with no time to properly

Messaging and Communication Are Not the Same Thing

September 22, 2020 | School Technology

By Ellen Lee With changes happening daily in school systems, being proactive in communicating with parents is more important than ever. You’ve likely increased the frequency of your messaging to get everyone on the same page. So why does it feel like the information isn’t getting through? The reason has a lot to do

10 Ways to Create Collaborative, Engaging Classrooms During COVID

September 22, 2020 | School Furniture

By Dr. Christina Counts Here are the steps that all schools should be taking to ensure safe, clean, healthy classrooms for the 2020-21 school year (and beyond). As we move further into the Fall 2020 semester, schools are focused on creating healthy but functional learning spaces—all while keeping students and learning at the center

Post-Pandemic Learning Environments

September 22, 2020 | School Facilities & Campus

By Steven Herr, AIA For educators, students and families, 2020 has been a test of patience and persistence. Finishing the school year remotely, creating contingency plans for a new year and preparing facilities for in-person learning this fall has forced many of us to reflect on the state of our learning environments. Even if

8 Tips to Help Manage Increased Tech Usage During Back to School

September 21, 2020 | School Technology

With schools relying on education technology more than ever this year, preparing for a significant surge of online usage and the possible impact this could have on your systems should be on every tech leader’s mind this back-to-school season. Most schools are starting either fully or partially online, which means there’s a potential for

Gym Floor Cleaning and Disinfecting for COVID-19

September 21, 2020 | School Sports & Recreation

By Hayden Delia We’re living in unprecedented times. The coronavirus has affected nearly all aspects of our life, from hitting the gym to going to church. It’s been difficult for everyone to adjust to the “new normal.” Among the hardest-hit places are schools and exercise facilities (gyms, YMCAs, etc.) We want to use our

Visitor Management for a Safer and More Efficient School

September 20, 2020 | School Safety & Security

By Evan Starkey Today, school security and the safety of students and staff is one of the most important topics in our country. Recent tragedies have highlighted the need for schools to take a look at current practices and policies in place to help make their schools safer and more efficient in the future.

Best Practices for Parent Communication During COVID

September 20, 2020 | School Technology

By Amanda Richards Especially during a time of crisis, there is not a “one size fits all” solution to parent communication during COVID-19. What may be the perfect amount of communication for one parent might be too much communication for another parent. Similarly, what one principal may feel is reasonable for communication may not

Air Quality in Educational Facilities

September 20, 2020 | School Facilities & Campus

By Trey Fly Air quality in educational facilities has always been very important. Schools have a high concentration of people that come and go every day, often bringing in new germs from the outside world. There are many studies over the years that correlate poor air quality with lower test scores and increased absences.

Ensure Safe and Clean Learning Spaces This Fall

July 23, 2020 | School Classroom

By Eileen Roybal Maintaining a safe and clean learning environment is more important now than ever before. For so long, the trend in education was collaborative, hands-on learning. Now, to keep students and staff safe, learning spaces will simply have to look differently. Hopefully, for the sake of encouraging biophilia – the idea that

How to Incorporate Modular, Reconfigurable Design Elements into Education Spaces

July 23, 2020 | School Classroom

By John Stein In the COVID-19 world, the necessity for educational facilities to prioritize student wellness is more relevant than ever, as good design has become a literal health issue—where strategic square footage, hygienic surfaces and materials, and proper social distancing solutions are fundamentally important to ensure learners (and their educators) remain in good

10 Spaces Every School Should Update with Signs Before Reopening

July 22, 2020 | School Facilities & Campus

Signs and graphics have always been used to provide direction, impart information, and inspire new behavior, but in a world adapting to a whole new mode of thinking, they become guiding lights on the pathway to safety. Exterior Yard signs can incorporate directional messages or imagery to point students and staff where they need

Digital Contact Tracing: Academic Applications Beyond Pandemic Response

July 20, 2020 | School Technology

By Jana Rankin Contact tracing has emerged as one of the most recognizable terms of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the actual practice has long been used to unravel complex human interactions and recreate them within specific parameters such as location, duration, or physical proximity. While we are all aware that health officials are applying

Social Distancing Solutions Through Classroom Furnishings

July 19, 2020 | School Classroom

By Jane Shepherd It’s no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about enormous changes to the everyday lives of people across the globe. When it comes to the education system, classrooms, hallways, extracurriculars and even buses will be modified with social distancing and cleanliness regulations in place to ensure that people stay as

The Three Keys to a Return to Operations

May 28, 2020 | School Facilities & Campus

By Nathan Parr The world’s response to COVID-19 impacted us all. The return to school operations will bring families that have elevated expectations for a clean facility with a heightened understanding that it takes more to do it right. Schools have always faced a higher risk for exposure to, well, everything. With the return

School Cafeteria: Cleaning, Sanitizing and Targeted Disinfecting

April 7, 2020 | School Facilities & Campus

After a very long and unexpected break, halls and classrooms will soon be filled with returning students and staff. This extended vacation is the ideal time to get some targeted deep cleaning done. One of the most challenging places to clean is the school cafeteria. School cafeterias and kitchen areas contain a legion of

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