From the Administrator
Dr. Kraig Lofquist
Do Facilities Really Matter?
I remember my dad driving his 1968 Mercury Monterey home after the local dealership put an air conditioner in it. Wow! It was something. I also remember the first time our car had cruise control! Today cars can be started from afar. In the not so distant future, they will drive themselves.
Over the course of time, buildings have also improved. Facilities are now built around the standards and needs of the day. Safety is one of the principal concerns when a new facility is constructed. Also, new facilities are built with technological infrastructure in mind. Moreover, “high efficiency” heating and cooling systems are now considered to be “standard.”
In a recent study done at Penn State University, researchers wanted to know if facilities had an impact on employees and students. They found that “facility quality is an important predictor of teacher retention and student learning. The physical and emotional health of students and teachers depend on the quality of the physical location, which makes establishing safe, healthy buildings essential.” Moreover, there is reams of research that say new facilities improve work production and performance in other work sectors.
A few years ago, we surveyed employees from the schools we serve. While surveying schools is not new, especially because we always want to provide quality services, this one asked “what, if anything, needs to be improved at ESU 9?” A couple of the responses were brutally honest about our current facility. One response read, “Do SOMETHING about the facility!” I appreciated the honest response, and wanted to tell the person we have been working on a new facility. It’s finally here!
We are grateful for our current facility, but are also excited about the opportunities our new facility will provide. Now all we have to do is move!
 
Current ESU 9 Facility New ESU 9 Facility |
