b'Smart Schools, Smarter Buildings:The Future of Integrated Technology in EducationBy Keegan Corrigan, VeregyAre You Managing Your DayOr Is The Day Managing You? As public K-12 school districts across Missouri face ever-tightening budgets, aging infrastructure, and increasingly complex facility management challenges, finding innovative solutions to improve efficiency and reduce costs has never been more critical. Many schools struggle with outdated and fragmented building systems that fail to communicate with one another, leaving physical plant managers burdened with inefficiencies and missed opportunities for optimization. School districts need a platform which offers a transformative solution: a fully integrated, user-friendly system that unifies various technologies into a cohesive, smart building ecosystem.The Challenge: Siloed Systemsand InefficienciesModern school buildings often house advanced technologies, such as HVAC management systems, LED lighting, energy monitoring dashboards, security systems, and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS). While these tools are effective individually, they typically operate in isolation. This lack of integration creates inefficiencies such as:Multiple logins and interfaces forsystems into a single, cloud-basedan intuitive interface that provides different systems platform. This approach transformsreal-time insights.Redundant manual processes fragmented technologies into a unifiedEnergy Optimization: Delayed response times tosystem that communicates seamlessly.Automatically implement energy-maintenance issues Schools can automate workflows, reducesaving strategies such as load Higher energy consumption dueoperational complexity, and unlockshedding during peak usage.to lack of coordination betweensignificant cost savings.Predictive Maintenance: Monitor systems equipment performance to address For example, a school gymnasiumKey Features of a Single, issues before they escalate into might require HVAC adjustments,Cloud-Based Platform: costly repairs.lighting changes, and security access forVendor-Neutral Integration: an event. Without integration, these tasksConnects systems from differentReal-World Benefits for Schoolsmust be managed separately, wastingmanufacturers to ensure flexibilityBy adopting an integrated platform, time and resources. and scalability. schools can achieve measurable Customizable Workflows: Schoolsimprovements in operational efficiency The Solution: Integrate your facilitycan automate HVAC scheduling,and cost savings while enhancing the systems into a single, user-friendlylighting adjustments, and securitycomfort and safety of their facilities.platform to drive greater operationalaccess based on event calendars or1. Streamlined Operations efficiencies and savings.occupancy levels. School districts often operate Find a platform that addresses theseCloud-Based Accessibility:with multiple standalone systems, challenges by integrating buildingManage facilities remotely throughsuch as HVAC controls, lighting 22|SCHOOL PLANT MANAGER MAGAZINE|SPRING 2025'