By Cheryl Aquadro

Director, K-12 - Performance Infrastructure™

Johnson Controls K-12 team recently attended the NSBA 2019 Annual Conference in March in the city of ‘Brotherly LOVE’ – Philadelphia. During the conference, K-12 experts connected with school business leaders to Learn about new needs, Observe offerings, Verify references and Educate each other on school district priorities and the role that systems integrators play in addressing infrastructure needs – such as addressing deferred maintenance with limited budgets. From discussions on energy efficiency, career readiness programs and attracting and retaining students, to school safety and security, we enjoyed speaking with school leaders on how the utilization of systems integration and unique funding approaches can help provide students and faculty a better learning environment.

The event’s agenda included Michele Gay’s presentation on improving school safety measures. Michele is the co-founder and executive director of Safe and Sound Schools, a nonprofit founded by parents who lost children at Sandy Hook. The presentation focused on how safety systems can fail if not properly implemented and highlighted the need for school safety education and advocacy. Ensuring school safety and security is one of the most important roles of school leaders and due to this, conversations around the implementation of active shooter detection systems sparked during the conference. While many districts are interested in installing these systems, budgets can prevent it. We connected with school leaders to share insights on school safety and security, and our affordable product and installation package offering for active shooter detection systems.

During the event, our team also hosted an HVACR lab tour and a cocktail reception for K-12 industry leaders. The tour offered attendees an inside look into the Pathways Program – a career readiness curriculum developed by Johnson Controls. This lab offers students a hands-on opportunity to further education in skilled trades. Following the lab tour, guests joined together for a reception to network and discuss insights gained during the conference.

By providing school districts the opportunity to make their infrastructure goals a reality – whether it’s updating security systems, improving energy efficiencies, addressing deferred maintenance, or all the above – we’re excited to continue to help school districts achieve their goals through funding options and procurement methods based on priorities and needs.