Securing Funding and Buy in IAQ Tools for Schools Connector E-Newsletter 35

Connector E-Newsletter #35: Securing Funding and Buy-in
March 31, 2011
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
IN THIS ISSUE:
> News and Events
> How to Secure Funding and Buy-in at Your School
> Lessons Learned: How Award-Winning and Faculty Districts Have Achieved Funding and
Buy-in Success
> Have Your Questions Answered
NEWS AND EVENTS

• Study to Evaluate Asthma Triggers in Children: A new study —
funded by EPA and conducted by the University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School — will
examine how elevated levels of exposure to air pollutants, in addition to
chronic psychological stress, may contribute to higher rates of asthma
in urban communities.

• Smoke-Free Homes May Reduce Childhood Ear Infections:
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Research
Institute for a Tobacco Free Society have found a correlation between
an increase in smoke-free homes in the United States and fewer cases
of middle ear infections in children. To read this full report, visit the
Tobacco Control Journal.

• Air Pollution Hurts Children's Lungs: A study conducted by
Taiwanese researchers finds that particle pollution in the air throughout
the year measurably affects children's lung function. Read more about
the "Effects of Ambient Particulate Matter and Fungal Spores on Lung
Function in Schoolchildren."
HOW TO SECURE FUNDING AND BUY-IN AT
YOUR SCHOOL

Securing buy-in and funding is an integral aspect of developing and
sustaining an IAQ management program. With budgets for school
projects decreasing across the country, it is important to ensure that
protecting the health and safety of students, staff and faculty remain a
priority. Securing buy-in and funding requires planning and coordination,
as they are closely linked; often, securing buy-in from school district
leadership can help garner funding for IAQ projects. Use the tips below to
start planning your road to IAQ management success.

• Start small. In districts large or small, sweeping changes to an IAQ
management program are usually not feasible. Start with a concern in
the school or district and demonstrate how one change can improve
the issue.
Did You Know...

Asthma accounts for nearly
13 million missed school days
per year? Register for the 2011
National Asthma Forum, and learn
how to help manage asthma in
your school and community.
Should we have our schools
tested for mold? Can air
fresheners trigger students'
asthma?

Have these and other questions
answered on the Schools IAQ
Connector Email Discussion
Forum. Join today by sending a
blank email message to schools,
iaq_connector-subscribe@lists.
epa.gov. Then check your email
inbox for your confirmation and
membership details.
Access Past E-Newsletters
Online

Can't find a past IAQ Tools for
Schools Connector e-newsletter
in your email inbox? No problem!
Wish you could read past
editions? You can! Visit the
e-newsletter archive to access
printable versions (PDF) of all
past editions on the IAQ Tools for
Schools website.

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• Show your return on investment. You might see the benefits of a small change soon after implementation.
Tracking the impact of these changes is essential when "painting the picture" for district- or school-level
administrators.

• Speak the language of the person you're trying to influence. Finding the right way to present your message
to various audiences is critical for securing buy-in. Does being "green" in a school translate to fewer absences
due to asthma? Does having an IAQ management plan help the relationship between the teachers union and
the school board? Make your case truthfully and in the best context for your audience.

The building blocks for effective IAQ management in schools are available in the Framework for Effective School
IAQ Management. Being aware of and beginning to implement the key drivers of success can lead to a successful,
long-term program. Read our past Connector e-newsletter on Financing IAQ Improvements.

LESSONS LEARNED: HOW AWARD-WINNING AND FACULTY DISTRICTS HAVE
ACHIEVED FUNDING AND BUY-IN SUCCESS

• Start small: IAQ Tools for Schools National Award-winning Keller Independent School District didn't aim to
improve its overall IAQ management program when it switched to "greener" cleaning products. But because of
the success they had in that one small change, they set their sights to better and improved IAQ management.

• Show your return on investment: Baltimore County Public Schools, which has won every IAQ Tools for
Schools National Award available, tracks the costs of IAQ remediation. Within one year of implementing the IAQ
Tools for Schools Program, they reduced average expenditures on mold remediation activities from $513,000 to
$150,000.

• Speak the language of the person you're trying to influence: Newark Public Schools, the newest Faculty
member of the IAQ Tools for Schools Program, incorporated teachers into their IAQ management program by
explaining how IAQ, health and student performance are linked. The teachers could see the direct benefit to
their own work and had increased buy-in into the new IAQ management program being implemented in the
district.

Nearly every award-winning school district started small and built upon their successes, communicating those
successes clearly and effectively. If you are curious about how Award-winning and Faculty school districts have
done this, ask a question on the Connector email discussion forum. Not a member? Sign up today.

For more information and additional case stories, read Envisioning Excellence: Lessons from Effective School
Indoor Air Quality Programs (PDF).
HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

Is there a topic you want to see covered in an IAQ Tools for Schools Connector e-newsletter? Need more
information or have a quick question? Do you have suggestions fora webinar, an e-newsletter feature,
or are you simply curious about an IAQ topic and would like more information? If so, send us an email at
IAQTfSConnector@cadmusgroup.com.

Share YOUR news and events! Send us information to share with the school IAQ community. It could be
featured in the next e-newsletter. Email your news to IAQTfSConnector@cadmusgroup.com.

The IAQ Tools for Schools Program is a comprehensive resource to help schools maintain a healthy
environment in school buildings by identifying, correcting and preventing IAQ problems. Learn more about the
IAQ Tools for Schools Program at www.epa.gov/iaq/schools.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

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