By Kendra McQuilton, Energia CEO
What building improvement would help to make this a successful school year for you?
Back to School brings a lot of excitement – new students, new educators, lots of new jargon to learn. What isn’t new? Your district buildings and the effect they have on everyone during the school year. But there is a way to leverage your district infrastructure for positive impact.
Since every district and building is unique, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach for identifying and tackling legacy infrastructure obstacles that your district may face when it comes to providing an optimal learning environment for every student, without conducting an exhaustive assessment.
However, with the help of your staff and students, you can quickly develop a list of top building requirements that includes specific improvements for your school district. During “Superintendent’s Conference Day” and school on-site visits, ask your Administrators, Educators, Students, and Parents a simple question:
What building improvement would help to make this a successful school year for you?
The people who are about to spend 1,400 hours this year in school district buildings, classrooms, hallways, auditoriums and gyms are the best source for focusing on what improvements to the infrastructure could make their year more successful, less stressful and happier.
We recently interviewed Westbury UFSD Superintendent Tahira Dupree Chase following a successful energy-savings and energy-generation project at the Westbury High School that focused on improving heating, cooling, airflow and solar power generation.
Dr. Chase shared insights from discussions with her students and staff who were experiencing cooler classrooms on swelteringly hot days:
“To actually hear that our classrooms are cool, the kids are fine, they’re happy and they get to be in a classroom where the environment is conducive to learning – that just warms my heart. And I have to say in the 10 years that I have been a superintendent, this is the first time that I have experienced this. It really brings joy to know that my kids are doing well and that no matter what the temperature is outside, inside we are creating an environment that is going to encourage them to be the best version of themselves.”
This year as your staff and students are excitedly beginning the new school year – ask them to identify one thing that can make it a better and more productive year. Then give us a call and let’s see how we can help you make changes to the school environment that will deliver an ongoing impact for your district.