Teachers and administrators need to insure that children, of all ages, have adequate tools to meet the classroom needs. The need is even more critical today, as the plight of budget cutting seriously affects the ability for schools to provide adequate supplies in enough quality and quantity.

For decades, many teachers have provided such basic supplies as paper, pencils, ink cartridges, and yes, even books, at their own expense. With explosion of class sizes, constant faculty turnover, and additional new and often younger teachers, the burden of providing supplies cannot be from their own personal pockets.

With the phenomenal growth of the internet and more importantly online shopping, the search for school supplies and the acquisition of tools to equip a school has become much easier. The ability to do instant product and price comparisons, along with factory direct shipping, consumers are able to save money. The ability to research and procure all the tools, especially conforming to regulations and certification standards, needed in your educational institution can also be found online.

The focus of this article is a discussion of lockers, the types of lockers found in schools, and how to make decisions on what is the best type of locker for your needs. If looking to upgrade your school locker and your budget is tight, you can also investigate the refurbishment of your existing lockers.

Most customers do not realize the magnitude of uses that include lockers. A random list of facility types would include: public and private schools, charters schools, colleges, universities, home schools, gyms, recreation centers, fitness centers, health clubs, athletic clubs, aquatic facilities, city, country, and private pools, marinas, lifeguard stations, country clubs, offices, medical centers, garages, community centers, homes, day care and child care centers, manufacturing plants, hotels, resorts, saunas, libraries, bowling alleys, skating rinks, multi-family housing units, adventure camps, youth camps, and the list goes on and on.

When it comes to value for your money, it's important to understand that not all lockers are created equal. Most school lockers will look similar from the outside but there are many differences that affect the quality, durability, and longevity of a locker. Consider just the locker door; rigidity and reinforcement, door function, latching mechanisms, hinges, thickness of steel, and methods of paint all play a factor. Avoid purchasing single point latching lockers that are currently being marketed. They do not have welded reinforcing pans to stiffen the door which means you really don't have a locker since they will easily be compromised.

What accessories should you consider to be ordered or installed with your lockers?

• Locker Locks - Common options include combination padlocks, or built-in combination locks, or built-in key locks. Other options include coin operated and keyed padlock.

• Locker Bases - Front and end locker bases enclose the space between the locker legs for a finished look that is easy to keep clean. Continuous "zee" or "channel" bases are common on large projects.

• Locker Room Benches - A locker room system is not complete without benches to sit on while changing.

• Locker End Panels - Either heavier gauge ends or premium boxed ends are available for row ends.

• Filler Panels - Are used to bridge gaps between the end of a run of lockers and the wall, creating a professional, polished look when the lockers don't take up the full wall-to-wall space.

Lockers can be made of metal, plastic, or wood – which is best for your needs? Most locker requirements with the lowest cost is met by using metal lockers. Wood lockers are much more stylish and provide warmth, beauty, and elegance. Although plastic lockers are generally the most expensive, they are high recommended for areas exposed to moisture and corrosive elements.

School lockers and classroom storage units come in a large range of locker sizes, door combinations, and addition options to fit your budget. Some of your critical decisions need to be: What needs to be locked up? Who needs to access it? Where is the locker located?

• Personal effects locker - Ideal way of providing secure storage for smaller items offering increased security for your staff

• Wet Area Locker – Needs to be chlorine resistant

• Standard Locker - Quality compartment lockers suitable for a multitude of storage

• Cube locker - Excellent way of providing space saving storage

• Three quarter Locker - A three-quarter size locker, not as tall as a standard locker and more suitable for younger students. Or simply where the storage space required is not as much or a wall display can still be visible above the lockers.

Let your fingers do the walking with online research and product comparisons. Find the best values and quality for your educational requirements and make that budget last through graduation.