x'/EPA
2009 indoor
LEADER
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Instructions
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS)
National Leadership Award is presented to schools and/or school districts with a senior-level commitment
to establish and maintain a sustainable IAQ program as well as to relate your school IAQ strategies
to the framework for effective school IAQ programs (i.e., Organize, Assess, Plan, Act, Evaluate, and
Communicate).
Recipients of the IAQ TfS National Leadership Award will receive:
• A "Certificate of Achievement" signed by an EPA official;
• Recognition on EPA's Web site - www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/awards.html;
• Access to topical web conference calls, training, events, and recognition and mentoring
opportunities; and
• Regular e-mail updates aimed at advancing your school IAQ program.
How To Apply
Interested candidates should complete the IAQ TfS National Leadership Award application, which may
be downloaded at www. epa.gov/iaq/schools/leadershipaward. html. Applications will be evaluated
based on whether applicant schools have selected an IAQ Coordinator and/or established an IAQ team.
Applications for the Leadership Award are accepted year-round on a non-competitive basis. For specific
questions, contact Jennifer Lemon at (202) 343-9608 or lemon.jennifer(q)jepa.gov.
The application is a fill-in form, which will allow you to save what you have filled in on your
computer and submit it electronically via e-mail.
All applications may be submitted by e-mail, facsimile, U.S. Mail, or special delivery services (Federal
Express, United Parcel Services, etc.).
E-mail:
ATTN: IAQ Tools for Schools Awards Coordinator
awardscoordinatort&cadmusgroup.com
Facsimile:
ATTN: IAQ Tools for Schools Awards Coordinator
(703)247-6001
U.S. Mail (or Special Delivery):
ATTN: IAQ Tools for Schools Awards Coordinator
The Cadmus Group, Inc.
1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 247-6000
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x'/EPA
2009 indoor
LEADER
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
School or School System/District Information
Please provide all of the information requested in the table below. Note: If the contact per son for this
application is not in school during the summer break, please provide additional contact information
(e.g., cellphone, alternate contacts) to allow EPA to contact you about your application, if necessary.
The application is a fill-in form, which will allow you to type your answers directly into the form,
save what you have filled in on your computer, and submit it electronically via e-mail.
IAQ Coordinator Contact Information
School System/District Name
Name(s) of IAQ Coordinator or IAQ Team
Members (if necessary, please include
an additional sheet listing all IAQ Team
members)
Title
Department
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone
Fax Number
E-mail Address
School System/District Profile
Total Number of Students
Total Number of Staff
Total Number of Facilities in Your System/
District (e.g., 45 schools, 5 educational
support buildings)
Age Range of All System/District Facilities
(e.g., 5-90 years old)
Total Square Footage (ft2) of All System/
District Facilities (e.g., 1.5 million ft2)
Total School District Budget
Number of School Facilities in Your School
System/District Participating in the IAQ TfS
Program
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x'/EPA
2009 indoor
LEADER
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Please review the statements in each section and check all boxes that apply to your school or school
district IAQ program.
Organize for Success
1. Our school/school district has organized a sound, committed team of people to address
indoor air quality (IAQ) in our school(s) that, at a minimum, includes:
D Identifying an IAQ Coordinator or Team to lead and track IAQ activities
n Identifying key decision makers that are integral for IAQ program success
CI Meeting with senior management to present the IAQ program and gain their support
n Securing a signed letter of commitment from a top-level school/school district official
2. Other important actions we are taking to organize our IAQ program include:
n Gathering current IAQ and related policies; contact information for contractors, maintenance
staff, bus drivers, and others as appropriate
EH Establishing a process for gathering and tracking checklists and IAQ complaints/concerns
n Contacting an EPA Regional Office or EPA National Partner to assist with organizing our IAQ
program
CD Contacting an IAQ TfS Mentor to assist with organizing our IAQ program
EH Setting up an IAQ Resources and Communications center
D Other
Assess Environments Continuously
1. Our school/school district has assessed the overall condition of IAQ in our school system
facilities and identified critical items. At a minimum, our current or completed actions
include:
n Developing an IAQ profile for each school building (e.g. obtaining a map/blueprint of each
school, reviewing building-related documents, conducting walkthroughs)
2. We use the following checklists—or created customized checklists—from the IAQ TfS
Action Kit to assess IAQ during walkthrough inspections:
Administrative staff
Building grounds and maintenance
Food service
Health officer/school nurse
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Renovation and repairs
Teacher's classroom
Ventilation
Waste management
Walkthrough
Other
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x'/EPA
2009 indoor
LEADER
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
3. Our school/school district has established benchmarks—based on the findings from the
school walkthrough(s) and checklists—for assessing and measuring success. Our
success metrics include tracking:
EH Visits to the school nurse
EH Response time to IAQ complaints
EH IAQ complaint logs
EH Feedback from occupants
EH Number of absentee/sick days
Plan Short and Long-Term Activities
Financial data (i.e., costs of IAQ
improvements leading to long-term
savings)
Maintenance logs
Other
1. Our school/school district has created a sustainable, management-approved plan to address
indoor air quality (IAQ) in my school(s). At a minimum, we promote a list of short-term and
long-term activities to resolve or prevent IAQ problems. Our current or completed actions
include:
EH Determining a schedule/timeline for IAQ related events and implementing the IAQ management
plan
EH Establishing a plan for regular walkthroughs of school facilities
EH Determining building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning protocols
EH Developing a waste management plan
EH Developing procedures to report, address, communicate, and follow-up on IAQ complaints
EH Determining activities to prevent outdoor pollutants from entering indoors
EH Establishing building moisture control plans
EH Defining mold/microbial management procedures
EH Planning for cleaning and maintenance of floor coverings
EH Establishing preventative maintenance and operational plans
EH Developing/Establishing construction and renovation plans
EH Involving EPA regions, other government organizations, and/or not-for-profit organizations in
the planning and implementation of our IAQ program
EH Other
2. Other important actions we are taking to support our plan for managing IAQ in our school/
school district include:
EH Getting approval from various stakeholders, such as principals, teachers, custodians, staff, and
managers
Taking steps to integrate IAQ into regular management activities through the development,
adoption, and use of certain IAQ policies and best practices (e.g., adopt no-smoking policies,
implement Integrated Pest Management program, select and store proper cleaning products,
paints, pesticides, and other potentially harmful chemicals)
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x'/EPA
2009 indoor
LEADER
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Act to Address Structural, Institutional, and Behavioral Issues
1. Our school/school district is taking action to improve indoor air quality (IAQ). At a
minimum, our current or completed actions include:
EH Addressing items in our prioritized plan
2. Other important actions taken by our school/school district to improve IAQ include:
CD Utilizing information gathered in the assessment to establish building priorities
G Integrating IAQ activities into regular school facility operations and maintenance
G Conducting walkthroughs of school facilities
CD Implementing building, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) protocols that
include proper operation and regular maintenance
CD Selecting cleaning and pest control products that minimize exposure to pollutants
CD Executing an Integrated Pest Management program
CD Implementing a radon testing program
CD Implementing procedures to report, address, communicate, and follow-up on IAQ complaints
CD Executing procedures to prevent outdoor pollutants from entering indoors
CD Implementing building moisture control plans
CD Re-evaluating and updating the IAQ management plan
CD Other
3. Our school/school district has taken action to educate and inform the school district and
community on IAQ issues. Current or completed actions include:
CD Educating staff and others on IAQ problems, policies, prevention, and action
CD Training staff on the IAQ management plan
CD Establishing regular meetings with the IAQ team, administrators, staff, and parents to discuss
the status of actions
CD Other
Evaluate Results for Continuous Improvement
1. Our school/school district has established baselines, metrics, and procedures for evaluating
IAQ on an ongoing basis. At a minimum, our current or completed actions include:
CD Ensuring IAQ program sustainability by continually re-evaluating the program, plan, policies,
procedures, and results using measurable data
CD Assessing progress toward reaching short- and long-term goals identified in our IAQ
management plan
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x'/EPA
2009 indoor
LEADER
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
2. Other important actions taken by our school/school district include:
CH Tracking progress and evaluating results and outcomes from IAQ activities. We have
established metrics to measure:
D Student and/or teacher visits to the school nurse
n Financial metrics
D Response time to address IAQ complaints
n Absentee/sick days
D Customer/occupant Satisfaction
ED IAQ complaints
D Other
CH Establishing accountability for lAQ-related issues among appropriate school personnel
CH Documenting and communicating results of IAQ evaluations
D Re-evaluating IAQ benchmarks for accuracy
D Other
Communicate with Everyone, All the Time
1. Our school/school district regularly communicates with stakeholders in our community as
part of our schools' indoor air quality management program. At a minimum, our current or
completed actions include:
CH Communicating the adoption of new or revised lAQ-related policies and procedures
CH Widely communicating school/school district commitment to providing a healthy school
environment
EH Developing and using communication strategies for reaching target audiences (school
personnel, students, teachers, parents, community, school board, etc.), and methods to ensure
the delivery of accurate, consistent, and clear information
CH Communicating the intent, next steps, and results of IAQ actions to all concerned parties of
the school community in particular:
n Administrators
D Business officials
EH Architects
n School nurses
EH Facility/maintenance managers
n Local health officials
EH School board members
EH Parents
D Other
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x'/EPA
2009 indoor
LEADER
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
2. Communication methods we utilize to ensure that accurate, consistent, clear information is
distributed to the appropriate audience(s) include:
CI School intranet (internal)
CH School Web site (external)
CI Internal newsletters, brochures, pages in employee handbook
CD Newsletters to parents, community
CI Media/public relations efforts (proactive and/or reactive)
CI Audio or public service announcements
EH Email to parents with information on meetings
CI Present updates and demonstrations at back-to-school nights
CD Develop lesson plans and incorporate IAQ issues into classroom curricula
D Other
Receipt of the IAQ TfS National Leadership Award is an indication of an effective, comprehensive IAQ
Program. As you continue to enhance your school IAQ Program, we encourage you to consider applying
for the IAQ TfS National Excellence Award. This competitive award recognizes outstanding school
districts that have achieved IAQ excellence. To learn more about the IAQ TfS National Excellence Award,
visit http://epa.gov/iaq/schools/iaqtfsawards.html.
In submitting this Application Form, I certify, to the best of my knowledge, the aforementioned
information is accurate.
Name
Title
Organization
Signature
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