In a time when school facilities teams are asked to do more with less, effective evaluation can be a strategic foundation that helps school facilities teams deliver healthier, more efficient, and more sustainable learning environments while avoiding unnecessary cost or complexity. School facilities teams are faced with aging infrastructure, shrinking budgets, and workforce retention challenges.
How School Facilities Teams Can Turn Evaluation Into a Roadmap for Continuous Improvement
Why Indoor Air Quality Must Be a Priority for Facilities Directors
The COVID-19 pandemic brought renewed attention to the condition of K–12 school facilities across the United States. In particular, it exposed decades of underinvestment in the systems that support healthy learning environments. Creating safe and healthy schools quickly became a national priority. Yet the issue did not begin with the pandemic. Even before COVID-19, nearly
HGSC Looks Back on 2025
As we reflect on 2025, one message rose clearly from schools and colleges across the country: “It’s been a really challenging year.” This was a year defined by shifting priorities, stretched budgets, aging buildings, staffing pressures, and constant tradeoffs. Facilities teams found themselves responding to competing demands with fewer resources, shorter timelines, and an increasingly
2025 HGSC Fall Virtual Summit Recap – Session 4
The 2025 Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Virtual Fall Summit concluded with the final session on Thursday, November 6, with “Emerging Opportunities for Safely Incorporating AI into Facility Operations and Maintenance.” This session was led by Craig Park, Associate Principal and Director of Digital Experience Design at Clark & Enersen. Park is a long-time technology
2025 HGSC Fall Virtual Summit Recap – Session 3
The 2025 Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Virtual Fall Summit continued on Thursday, October 30, with our session, “Exploring Hot Topics in School Facilities Operations and Management: Innovative Models for Managing Building Stock with Increasing Deferred Maintenance and Aging Infrastructure.” The panel featured the following leaders in facility operations: Katherine Walsh, Director of Planning, Engineering,
2025 HGSC Fall Virtual Summit Recap – Session 2
The 2025 Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Virtual Fall Summit continued on Thursday, October 23rd with our second session, “Best Practices for Effective Staff Engagement and Workforce Planning.” This session was led by Tracy Enger, retired Program Manager in the U.S. EPA’s Indoor Environments Division, and Gene Woodard, retired Director of Building Services at the
2025 HGSC Fall Virtual Summit Recap – Session 1
The 2025 Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Virtual Fall Summit opened on Thursday, October 16th with our first session, an interactive discussion surfacing the pressing operational realities for the 2025–2026 school year. K-12 and higher education facilities personnel, partners, and sponsors compared notes on what attendees collectively characterized as a ‘crazy, unpredictable, and hopeful year,’
HGSC Virtual Fall Summit 2025
Virtual Fall Summit 2025: Exploring Hot Topics in School Facilities Operations and Management Creating healthier, more sustainable schools and colleges through best-in-class facilities management requires having the right tools and technologies, driving transformation, and effectively adapting to new innovations, external factors, and market changes. In order to use facility operations to achieve efficient operations, enhance
Managing Resistance to Change: 6 Types of Common Resisters and How to Engage Them Effectively
In the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges (HGSC) Program, we work closely with K-12 and higher education facilities directors who are navigating complex change, which could include pursuing HGSC certification, improving sustainability across their institution, incorporating technology into their operations, or protecting student and staff health. As with any meaningful change effort, resistance is often
Key Takeaways from the 2025 HGSC Virtual Summer Summit
The 2025 Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Virtual Summer Summit was held in a series of sessions throughout July with the theme, “It’s All About the People: Practical Inspiration for Challenging Times.” This two-part series explored how to meet emerging challenges and advance sustainability, health, and operational goals. The sessions provided an opportunity to share