Selection Guide
By Cole Webb

There are many elements to consider when purchasing furnishings for your school and classrooms. Every school has a variety of furniture needs, which is why it is important to evaluate a range of products, so that you can make an informed decision about what is best for your school.

Here are some critical factors to consider:

1. Budget
Your main concern is probably going to be the budget constraints that every institution has.  When it comes to purchasing furniture, do not skimp on the budget. You definitely get what you pay for. However, there are wide gaps in dealer pricing, and it pays to shop around. 

It is always best to purchase in bulk quantities. It saves on freight and gets volume discount pricing.

2. Quality, Durability, Comfort
Classroom furniture has come a long way since the days of solid wood furniture. Ergonomic seating and colorful high-pressure laminate surfaces are the new trend. High-density plastic seating with steel tubular frames can allow for an ergonomically comfortable chair and can be produced in a wide variety of colors. 

3. Application
You should make sure that the furniture is correct for the tasks you need.  

Seating
With new materials and ergonomic designs, students can now be comfortable without sacrificing durability.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is ordering the wrong base for the chair. The base is where the chair makes contact with the ground. If the ground is carpeted, you need a sled based chair or soft casters. If the ground is tiled, you should pick a nylon or medium-duty glide for the base. If the ground is hard concrete, you should pick a heavy-duty steel glide for the base of the chair.

When purchasing school desks and chairs, the correct size is very important for the comfort of your students. The proper way to measure a desk is by measuring from the floor to the chair seat bottom.

Desks
When purchasing student desks, you have many options from which to choose.

Chair desks come as a single unit and are the most popular for classroom use today.  The two most popular chair desks are hard plastic and regular plastic seating.

Hard plastic is made by baking a mixture of wood flour and high-density resins together into a mold. These molds can be made for the seat and for the desk tops. They are then fastened to a tubular steel frame for extreme durability.

For a cheaper alternative, regular plastic seating and high-pressure laminate tops can also be fastened to tubular steel frames in a variety of shapes and sizes. You may want to consider ordering a mix of sizes to accommodate the many different sizes of students. Also, don’t forget to order at least one or two left-handed models.

For storage, book compartments now come in heavy-duty colorful plastics that are low noise and less dangerous than metal.

Classroom Tables
In today’s classroom, the new trend is for teachers to purchase classroom tables in a variety of shapes. Tables allow for collaborative learning, as well giving room to put a computer. 

Many classrooms for younger students incorporate tables in shapes such as a trapezoid or kidney to help focus on a collaboration learning style found in current learning curriculums. It is also highly recommended to choose high-pressure laminated surfaces for better performance and longer-lasting use. New materials also allow for colorful environments to stimulate learning.

For computer learning, tables can be equipped with wire management trays, locks, keyboard trays, CPU holders, and task chair seating for maximum effectiveness.

Cafeteria/Lunchroom Furniture
Cafeteria furniture has also made advances in design.

Basic folding tables and stack chairs are still popular, but they do not offer the mobility and ease of use that mobile cafeteria tables provide. The newer mobile tables can lift in the center and be rolled out of the way for easy cleanup. Many come with seating or stools already attached so that chairs do not have to be purchased separately. To keep things clean, chemically bonded edge banding and laminate surfaces help block unwanted bacteria from spreading.

Trends
The classrooms of the future will have many advances in technology. Some may even be paperless. The use of interactive whiteboards with powerful software allows teachers to do amazing things.  History teachers can show real film clips, and biology teachers can dissect a virtual frog with an electronic scalpel in real time, all on the interactive whiteboard. Students take multiple choice tests by using individual keypads, and grades can be given instantly.

Purchasing
With the new digital age, Internet catalogs/Web sites are one the best places to order school and classroom furniture. There are a variety of Web sites that feature very informative descriptions and product photos. You can also save when purchasing in volume. If your school or district participates in the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) program, GREENGUARD certified product lines of furniture can help you earn CHPS credits. This applies to any furniture models that are certified according to the GREENGUARD for Children & Schools program for low-emitting products.

Cole Webb is the ecommerce director for Edufurniture.com.

 Product Roundup

Jonti-Craft's KYDZ Ladderback Chairs
Jonti-Craft's KYDZ Ladderback Chairs are constructed with solid hardwood, which means added safety for children. These chairs are available in six seat heights with a natural, environmentally friendly finish. The chairs feature a sturdy plastic glides that won't rust or snag carpets. More importantly, the back rails are spaced for child safety. Each chair is backed by a five-year warranty. Order individually or in pairs. Jonti-Craft, a leading provider of quality furniture for the early learning market, offers a wide selection of creatively designed products.
www.jonti-craft.com

Sage by Virco
Because it effectively supports a variety of student body types, particularly taller and larger students, Virco’s Sage Series by Peter Glass and Bob Mills offers great seating choices for learning environments. With a sculpted shell that combines a generous backrest and a modified lumbar curve, Sage enables better seating load distribution, enhanced circulation, less fatigue, and longer-lasting comfort. Along with a 4-leg chair that has an 18-inch seat height, the Sage collection includes a 4-leg chair with a 19-inch seat height for taller students, and another 19-inch seat-height chair with a reverse cantilever frame.
www.virco.com

furniture4schools
furniture4schools, a division of J.R. Inc., has been in business for more than 36 years and is a leading supplier of furniture to public and private schools all over the country. furniture4schools carries all of the most popular manufacturers and offers outstanding customer service, pricing, and warranties. The company also stocks for immediate shipment several sizes in student chairs, files, teacher desks, student desks, activity tables, and chair desks in its two company-owned distribution centers.
www.furniture4schools.com

Royal Seating from Infinite Furniture Solutions
Royal Seating, the brand of quality classroom furnishings from Infinite Furniture Solutions, has been serving the educational industry for more than 40 years. Infinite Furniture Solutions offers the entire spectrum of classroom furniture needs, with options for both a traditional or modern classroom environment. The stylish hydroform leg table has an eye-catching design that brings a contemporary look to any classroom. Customize your look with a variety of eco-friendly laminates and edge options, including matching laminate, vinyl, or durable polyurethane Gator Edge. Choose from several frame powder coat colors, such as Mirage, the eco-friendly chrome alternative.
www.infinitefurnituresolutions.com

Versa Adjustable Classroom Table
With more than 12 inches of vertical height adjustment and a huge variety of available surface width/depth dimensions, the Versa Adjustable Classroom Table is a versatile premium classroom solution. Each table is American-made using only top-quality 14-gauge steel and high-density molecularly bonded laminated wood surfaces for optimum strength and durability. All Versa Adjustable Classroom Tables come with built-in cable management systems and can easily be fitted with retractable Keyboard Arms, CPU Holders, and a variety of monitor mounts for ideal ergonomic comfort and space efficiency. 
www.VersaTables.com

McCourt’s ErgoStack Classroom Chair
ErgoStack Classroom Chair is an ergonomically correct stacking chair manufactured by McCourt. The chair is available in heights from 10 inches to 18 inches in 2-inch increments, allowing the correct height to maintain proper foot resting position. The ErgoStack features a lumbar support to maintain proper back alignment while sitting and working at a variety of tasks. Used properly, adults and children work more efficiently with less fatigue and strain on the body's ligaments and muscles. The attention span is increased and there is less fidgeting. Choose from 12 seat colors with black or chrome legs.
www.mccourtmfg.com

Anthro’s Ergonomic Chairs
Anthro Corporation, the Tualatin, Oregon-based manufacturer of furniture for technology, presents three ergonomic chairs: Basic, Super and Deluxe. All three chairs feature a seat that angles forward and back, a chair back with independent height and angle adjustments, and padded T-arms that adjust up and down for added comfort. The Basic and Super Chairs both manufacture in two to three business days, and the Deluxe manufactures in 10 business days.
www.anthro.com

Wenger’s Music Posture Chairs 
Because proper posture is the foundation of good music, Wenger Corporation pioneered Music Posture Chairs 30 years ago. These patented chairs comfortably support and encourage correct posture, minimizing fatigue and the “fidget factor” while standing up to years of heavy use. Wenger offers innovations such as the Nota Music Posture Chair, which features a rounded waterfall seat that accommodates a wider range of body sizes. The Nota’s narrow convex chair back supports the spine’s natural lumbar curve, while still allowing full range of movement and diaphragmatic breathing.
www.wengercorp.com

AlphaBetter from Ergo in Demand
Revolutionize the classroom with an adjustable "once size fits all" standup desk. This unique desk provides a stand up/sit down design for students ranging from grades 3 to 12. The free-swinging Pendulum footrest bar helps with posture and naturally corrects body position while providing stress relief for the back. Additionally, the freedom of movement expends excess energy, thus providing the possibility of better classroom focus. Teachers agree with students about these adjustable desks, noticing positive changes. Optional matching adjustable stools are available.
www.ergoindemand.com

SmartLink from HON
The HON Company’s SmartLink Classroom Furniture Solution revolutionizes the classroom environment with an innovative, new collection that includes a Teacher Station, Modular Storage, Wall Rail System, and Student Desk.  SmartLink is a comprehensive, visually coordinated, adaptable, durable, and technology-centric furniture solution designed to organize and manage the classroom with one single product line. 
www.hon.com