I used to have a huge aversion to any kind of smart control, but the new generation of home automation (2010-now or whatever) is fundamentally different from the kind of 80's and 90's domotics that we all have vague memories of. Older systems (like the school system, probably) relied on an expensive central panel and wiring and accessories that were potentially tailored to that particular system, and if something went wrong you were totally out of luck, and only the installer could make changes or apply fixes. But now, all you need is mains power and a smartphone, Hue lights default to working like a regular light if something goes wrong with the Zigbee bridge, Shelly switches can be added onto regular switches so that it's just something on top of exactly the same tactile interface you already had, and so on and so on. And if all of it does mysteriously fail and you need to replace it, a new set of 10-20 light bulbs and some smart relays would set you back no more than a couple hundred dollars / euros.

Almost makes you wonder whether the school would be better off with a consumer grade system.