Pivot International Donates 7,000 Shields to KCPS

Kansas City, Dec. 8, 2020:  Pivot International, a Lenexa, KS-based global leader in product design, development, and manufacturing, has partnered with Kansas City Public Schools to enhance maximal protection for students and staff with a gift of 7,000 safety shields. 

Designed by Pivot International, the Pivot Shield is Made-in-the-USA and manufactured in Pivot’s FDA Registered Facility. Crafted of clear acrylic plexiglass and two ruggedized aluminum legs, the safety shields are transparent protective barriers that reduce the risk of airborne transmission. Easy to set up and easy to clean, they can be used between students' and teachers' desks and in school libraries, lobbies, entryways, administrative offices, security stations, or anywhere additional protection is desired.   

"We are proud to be playing such an active role in protecting students, teachers, and staff," said Mark Dohnalek, President & CEO of Pivot International. "Because our Pivot Shields act as a 'sneeze guard' against airborne transmission, they maximize safety while still allowing for an optimal learning environment of in-person interaction.” 

The KCPS Board of Directors and Superintendent Mark Bedell expressed their gratitude to Mr. Dohnalek and his company for the donation, which will be officially acknowledged during the Board of Directors meeting scheduled to start at 6;30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, Dec. 9.

"I want to thank everyone at Pivot International for their generosity and spirit of cooperation," Dr. Bedell said. "This donation of protective shields will directly benefit all of our students and staff. We want to get back into our school buildings as soon as possible and as safely as possible. Pivot International is helping us accomplish both those goals."

The 7,000-unit gift by Pivot International represents an estimated $2 million investment in Kansas City Schools. First created early in the pandemic for helping businesses and other organizations safely resume operations in an era of social distancing, Pivot will be shipping the shields directly from their Omaha warehouse to KCPS for easy assembly and distribution.  

"We are very pleased our Pivot Shields meet the KCPS safety standards, and they were able to accept our donation," said Dohnalek, who led his team in the original design efforts for the product. 

All KCPS students are currently taking classes from home. KCPS is closely monitoring the status of the pandemic in the community and has created gating-criteria that will guide the resumption of onsite learning to which all students are hoped to return. Visit www.KCPublicSchools.org for more details.

About Pivot International

Lenexa, KS-based Pivot International is an award-winning global product design, development, and manufacturing firm with expertise that spans fourteen industries and facilities that extend across three continents. With nearly a half-century of experience in helping companies worldwide bring successful innovations to market, Pivot delivers industry-leading supply chain solutions for defying disruption and driving growth. For more info, visit www.PivotInt.com.