Maintenance & Operations

Editor's Focus: Sweating the summer months

For you—the reader of American School & University—this time of year marks the beginning of a period of months that will be among your busiest.
May 1, 2014
2 min read

As the school year comes to a close, students, teachers and various support staff are preparing for a summer break away from the day-to-day rigors of teaching and learning. However, for you—the reader of American School & University—this time of year marks something much different: the beginning of a period of months that will be among your busiest.

The end of the school year typically kicks off a whirlwind of construction activity for schools and universities as new projects, major renovations and facility upgrades accelerate into high gear. With buildings and campuses sparsely populated during the summer, education administrators take advantage of this and pack the bulk of their construction, repair, improvement and deep-cleaning projects into this condensed timeframe—giving new meaning to “sweating the summer months.” But perception among the general public is that schools and universities are virtual ghost towns during the summer. This can’t be further from the truth. While students and teachers are not roaming buildings and grounds, administrators and operations staffs are working feverishly on plans for the new school year; and facilities and construction staff are sweating the details on the projects that will welcome back those on break upon their return.

In addition to new construction projects and major renovations entering their final stages, numerous upgrade and improvement projects will be completed during the summer months. Among the upgrades that have taken a sense of urgency and that many schools and universities will be completing are physical security enhancements, improvements to indoor and outdoor lighting, adding or increasing security camera coverage, and door and window replacements.

This month’s issue focuses on many of the issues you will be tackling over the next few months, including flooring/carpeting; energy improvements; interior design and planning; and a special look at the state of school and university construction today, and what the future holds for the next generation of education facilities.

In a few months when students, teachers and various support staff return and share stories of their summer recess, take pride that your hard work during their break will be a major contributor to them having a rewarding and successful experience now and in the future.

About the Author

Joe Agron Blog

Editor-in-Chief and Associate Publisher

Joe Agron is the editor-in-chief/associate publisher of American School & University magazine. Joe has overseen AS&U's editorial direction for more than 30 years, and has helped influence and shape national school infrastructure issues. He has been sought out for comments by publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, ABC News and CNN, and assisted with the introduction of the Education Infrastructure Act of 1994.

Joe also authors a number of industry-exclusive reports. His "Facilities Impact on Learning" series of special reports won national acclaim and helped bring the poor condition of the nation's schools to the attention of many in the U.S. Congress, U.S. Department of Education and the White House.

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