Assessment and Management of Mercury-Catalyzed Polyurethane Gym Floors: 10 Lessons from 10 New Jersey School Districts

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Lynch ◽  
Elissa Favata ◽  
Michael Gochfeld ◽  
Richard Lynch
Keyword(s):  
New Jersey ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Mercury Vapor ◽  
Mercury Exposure ◽  
Air Monitoring ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Floor Coverings ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Effective Assessment ◽  
Assessment Strategies

Objective: Mercury catalyzed polyurethane (MCPU) floors installed in K-12 gymnasiums may release mercury vapor presenting possible mercury exposure to teachers and students. Varied approaches to sampling, air monitoring, ventilation, evacuation of gyms and/or removal of the floor coverings have occurred. As many gyms are being converted to classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic, effective assessment and management of these floors is essential. Methods: Mercury assessment strategies for 10 New Jersey schools with MCPU floors were reviewed to assist school districts with decisions for management in-place or removal. Results: Bulk mercury levels do not predict airborne mercury levels. Mercury generation rates ranged between 0.02 to 0.17 μg/ft2/ hour. Hazards encountered during removal are substantial. Conclusions: Decisions to manage or remove mercury catalyzed rubber-like gym floor should be based upon a rigorous multi-factor assessment. Mercury exposures often can be managed via HVAC, added ventilation, temperature, and maintenance controls. A statewide registry of MCPU floors should be considered. Removal of MCPU floors should be professionally monitored to protect teachers, staff, and students.

scholarly journals Do teachers and students get the ed-tech products they need: The challenges of ed-tech procurement in a rapidly growing market

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Jennifer Morrison ◽  
Steven M. Ross ◽  
Roisin P. Corcoran
Keyword(s):  
Educational Technology ◽  
School District ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Rapid Rate ◽  
Procurement Process ◽  
Instructional Needs ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
The Many ◽  
K 12

Ed-tech courseware products to support teaching and learning are being developed and made available for acquisition by school districts at a rapid rate.  In this growing market, developers and providers face challenges with making their products visible to customers, while school district stakeholders must grapple with “discovering” which products of the many available best address their instructional needs.  The present study presents the experiences with and perceptions about the procurement process from 47 superintendents representing diverse school districts in the U. S.  Results indicate that, while improvements are desired in many aspects of the procurement process, the superintendents, overall, believe that, once desired products are identified, they are generally able to acquire them.  Difficulties lie in tighter budgets, discovering products that are potentially the best choices, and evaluating the effectiveness of the products selected as options.  These findings are presented and interpreted in relation to five major “Action Points” in the procurement process, and also with regard to implications for evaluating how educational technology impacts K-12 instruction. Keywords: Ed-tech, school districts, K-12.

iPad Implementation Approaches in K-12 School Environments

2016 ◽  
pp. 1228-1240
Author(s):  
Heejung An ◽  
Sandra Alon ◽  
David Fuentes
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
School Environments ◽  
Exploratory Case Study ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
K 12

This exploratory case study reports on the ways in which iPads are currently being used in New Jersey public schools, with a focus on the effectiveness of three different implementation approaches: 1) “ubiquitous approach,” 2) “classroom approach,” and 3) “sign-out approach.” This study also examines how K-12 teachers and students perceived of iPads as teaching and learning tools. Findings indicate that the teachers and students viewed iPads as valuable tools for teaching and learning, yet there were also several perceived challenges. The results of this study have implications for practitioners involved in the implementation of iPad initiatives.

iPad Implementation Approaches in K-12 School Environments

2015 ◽  
pp. 22-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heejung An ◽  
Sandra Alon ◽  
David Fuentes
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
School Environments ◽  
Exploratory Case Study ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
K 12

This exploratory case study reports on the ways in which iPads are currently being used in New Jersey public schools, with a focus on the effectiveness of three different implementation approaches: 1) “ubiquitous approach,” 2) “classroom approach,” and 3) “sign-out approach.” This study also examines how K-12 teachers and students perceived of iPads as teaching and learning tools. Findings indicate that the teachers and students viewed iPads as valuable tools for teaching and learning, yet there were also several perceived challenges. The results of this study have implications for practitioners involved in the implementation of iPad initiatives.

Sustainability Certification and Green Public Procurement: Ideals and Outcomes in a New Jersey School District

2021 ◽  
pp. 097340822110125
Author(s):  
Cluny Mendez ◽  
Christopher L. Atkinson
Keyword(s):  
New Jersey ◽  
School District ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Green Public Procurement ◽  
The Subject

The implementation of sustainability and green public procurement (GPP) initiatives in school districts has been the subject of some debate; questions over definitions and programme goals have led to inconsistency and concerns about programme achievements. The legitimacy of programmes rests not only with the announcement of policy by officials, but with adherence to policy and staff buy-in. This study examines barriers districts face, and makes recommendations based upon district experience on ways to successfully implement sustainability and GPP initiatives. A review of the literature on GPP and legitimacy in the execution of public functions within the education domain begins the study. Major components relative to best practices for GPP programmes are studied through the review of GPP-related documents from a school district in New Jersey considered as an exemplar of such programmes. Analysis of an interview with the district’s representatives suggests that, despite the normative approval such programmes receive, and widespread understanding of the rationale for pursuing such initiatives, there remain critical failings in implementation of these programmes, stemming from education, resourcing of initiatives and prioritization of green procurement in relation to other district priorities. The study concludes with lessons learned from this case, which is important given its positioning within New Jersey as an exemplar and recommendations for future research where work in this area is needed.

An Experimental Study of the Effects of Class Size

1980 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stan M. Shapson ◽  
Edgar N. Wright ◽  
Gary Eason ◽  
John Fitzgerald
Keyword(s):  
School Districts ◽  
Size Effects ◽  
Class Size ◽  
Process Variables ◽  
Mathematics Problem Solving ◽  
Reading Vocabulary ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Method Of Instruction ◽  
Mathematics Problem

The study investigated the effects of four class sizes (16, 23, 30, and 37) on teachers’ expectations; the attitudes and opinions of participants (students and teachers); student achievement in reading, mathematics, composition, and art; student self-concept; and a variety of classroom process variables (e.g., teacher-pupil interaction, pupil participation, method of instruction). Teachers and students were randomly assigned to a class size in Grades 4 and 5. A total of 62 classes in three school districts in Metropolitan Toronto participated in the two-year study. Findings indicated that teachers had definite expectations of class size effects that subsequently were reported to be confirmed by their experience in the study. However, most other results failed to support teachers’ opinions. Few of the observed classroom process variables were affected by class size. Although students’ mathematics-concept scores were higher in size 16 than 30 or 37, there were no class size effects for the other achievement measures (reading, vocabulary, mathematics-problem solving, art, and composition) or for students’ attitudes and self-concepts.

Under the law: Masking reality

2021 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 64-65
Author(s):  
Robert Kim
Keyword(s):  
School Districts ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Vaccination Status ◽  
Legal Decisions ◽  
Legal Questions ◽  
The Law ◽  
Centers For Disease Control ◽  
K 12

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation that students, staff, and visitors at K-12 schools wear masks indoors, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status, led numerous states to issue mask mandates for some or all K-12 schools. Most of the remaining states have decided to allow school districts to do whatever they want around masks, but a few banned local mask mandates. These developments invite a number of legal questions about the legality of mask mandates (and bans on those mandates). Robert Kim reviews the legal decisions issued thus far related to mask requirements.

Teaching students out of harm’s way

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-302
Author(s):  
Esther Charlotte Moon
Keyword(s):  
Technology Integration ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Digital Citizenship ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Instructional Content ◽  
Device Integration ◽  
The Usa ◽  
K 12 ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how changes in K-12 educational delivery methods in the USA impacts students as 1:1 device programs become a required tool for learning. This change produces gaps in knowledge and understanding of the digital environment and exposes minors to risk. Mandatory technology integration by school districts places the ethical responsibility on school districts to prepare students to use the digital environment to mitigate risk. Design/methodology/approach The author’s literature review focused on the impact of personal device integration in education on students. The author surveyed teachers in the district on what they perceived as risk to students accessing the digital environment and what they believe creates value in digital citizenship instructional content. The author also gathered information while serving on the school district technology steering committee and digital citizenship working group. Findings Mandatory 1:1 device programs used for learning provide unlimited access to the digital environment. This technology integration creates digital knowledge gaps in understanding among students and exposes them to risk or dangers such as loss of privacy, psychological harms and engaging in or being a victim of illegal online activities. School districts are responsible for providing a remedy to close this gap and mitigate risk by developing learning content resources for teachers. Social implications As 1:1 device programs continue to grow in school districts in the USA, it is essential for students to learn to apply protocols and understand norms of the digital world. Providing a digital citizenship curriculum in a format such as a Google Site will offer educators access to instructional content that teaches students to apply protocols, understand norms of the internet and social media and foster critical thinking to analyze power structures, biases and recognize manipulation online. Student must learn how to apply rules that challenge assumptions behind the digital content they see, and they must be able to identify and resolve digital practices and behaviors that are problematic, so they are prepared to participate in a digital society. Originality/value This perspective may be relevant to school districts contemplating personal device integration, providing insight into how 1:1 device use impacts students and develops an ethical position for creating digital citizenship resources for teachers.

scholarly journals Actualizing hope and joy in K-12 curricula through Daisaku Ikeda’s human education

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
Nai-Cheng Kuo ◽  
◽  
Amy Wood ◽  
Kyra Williams ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
School Districts ◽  
Lesson Design ◽  
Global Citizens ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Local Contexts ◽  
Human Education ◽  
Children's Stories ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Teachers Perspectives

Abstract Purpose: Our study aims to create a framework grounded in Daisaku Ikeda’s philosophy of education for educators and researchers to implement and evaluate human education in the classroom. Research Methodology: We first synthesized the eighteen chapters by scholars involved in Ikeda studies, published in the book entitled: Hope and Joy in Education: Engaging Daisaku Ikeda across Curriculum and Context to discover the main themes in Ikeda’s human education. Based on these themes, we selected six children’s stories developed by Ikeda to design lessons. We then conducted surveys with ten K-12 teachers across disciplines and school districts to explore their perspectives toward humanity and their feedback on our lesson design. Results: Our finding indicates that creating hope and joy in education is inseparable from human revolution, value creation, happiness, the greater self, global citizens, as well as life and death. In addition, the participant’s responses to the survey questions help educators and researchers understand what K-12 teachers look for in order to implement lessons on humanity more efficiently and effectively. Limitations: By no means would we consider our lesson design exemplary or applicable in all different contexts. Instead, we consider these lessons a starting point to continue exploring a better way to teach humanity in school. Contribution: Seeing examples of lesson plans on humanity and learning from K-12 teachers’ perspectives provide an aspect for educators and researchers to use, extend, or expand the present study to bring hope and joy to students in their local contexts.

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