Page 12 - School Planning & Management, July/August 2019

TRENDS IN
VIEW FROM THE INDUSTRY
EDUCATION
Thought Leader:
Ashley Houck, Senior Manger, Vertical
Market K12 has over
10 years of collect-
ing insights and translating them into innovative products across multiple markets.
Company:
Learn by Safco®
Website:
www.SafcoProducts.com/LearnbySafco
Contact Info:
AshleyHouck@safcoproducts.com
Q : What are some of the trends you are seeing in education for student furniture?
A: There are a few trends we are seeing
as we talk to teachers and administrators. First, the idea of flexible seating. Chairs that allow students to choose where and how
they sit while they learn are very important
in today’s classrooms. Schools are also looking for seating that provides movement for students to fidget in a more natural way versus more distracting outlets that can lead to interruptions in the classroom. Second, mobility and reconfiguration are big for the classroom and spaces outside the classroom too. The ability to easily move desks, chairs, tables and other classroom furniture is critical for the varying ways students learn and the activities teachers need to do while teaching. Schools have learned that one size does not fit all when it comes to learning, so the furniture throughout the school needs to reflect this and be able to change quickly with minimal effort.
Q : Why do you think flexible seating is an important addition to classrooms?
A: Flexibleseatingoffersavarietyofoptions for students in a classroom. This allows them to not only make a choice about where to sit, but also what seat is the most comfortable for them. Some students may choose a chair
how the math works in their favor. You had to be able to say, “Here’s how productive we’re going to be. We can pay for this in ‘X’ number of months.” That’s why, in my work, my emphasis is still on teaching and on clearly illustrating the benefits of new innovative approaches, like cordless backpack vacuums.
Let’s start with some hard facts about the productivity advantages of cordless backpack vacuums over upright vacuums. If you’re cleaning a 100,000-square-foot facility, you could realize an annual savings in five figures simply by switching to a cordless backpack. How is that possible? Let’s do the math.
We know that a standard upright takes three to five times longer to clean the same space as a battery backpack. Tests show that an upright cleans approximately 2,500 square feet per hour. If you have 100,000 square feet of floor space, it’s going to take 35 hours to clean it with an upright. But with a cordless backpack vacuum, you can cover 10,000 square feet per hour. That means that the same area will take about
that allows a lot of movement, while other students may want no movement at all. Plus, having multiple chairs gives students the ability to switch during the day. Depending on their mood, the classroom activity, or time of day there is a seating option that fits how they need to learn. Many flexible seating options are also designed to be moved easily, so reconfiguring seating options can be done by the students and not just teachers or other staff.
Q : Where do you see flexible seating in the future?
A: Flexible seating will continue to be
an important part of the educational environment and grow as students, teachers and even parents see the benefit of having it available. The seating will continue to adapt to school and classroom needs as curriculums and learning methods change over time. Educators will seek seating and other pieces that help students learn and provide flexible solutions that can grow and change with their environment.
9.5 hours to clean. Based on an hourly wage of $13/hour, the labor savings add up to as much as $87,000 a year.
Q: Many vacuums improve IAQ. What is the value of improving IAQ?
A: Although it’s harder to put a price tag on improving indoor air quality (IAQ), it certainly benefits a building’s occupants and its cleaning staff. After all, most of us spend 80 to 90 percent of our time indoors. Most upright vacuums kick up the very dust you’re trying to remove. That isn’t just bad for IAQ—it eventually settles and needs to be cleaned again.
Q: Cordless vacuums remove the potential trip hazard of a cord. What is the value of improved safety?
A: While we can’t track the savings from accidents that never happened, we do know that a single trip-and-fall incident can cost tens of thousands of dollars in medical and insurance costs. Of course, providing a safe work environ- ment isn’t just economical; it’s ethical.
Thought Leader:
Jim Elliot, Midwest / Rocky Mountain regional manager, ProTeam®, is a senior sales executive with a passion for calculating ROI.
Company:
ProTeam, The Vacuum Company
Website:
ProTeam.Emerson.com
Contact Info:
customerservice.proteam@emerson.com or 866/888-2168
Q: Cordless backpack vacuums require a higher initial investment. How do I determine the ROI for a cordless backpack vacuum compared to an upright?
A: When I started in this industry 30 years ago, you had to really tell the customer
12 7/8 2019
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