Update #31: Start the School Year Right
September 24, 2010
oEPA
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
IN THIS ISSUE:
> News and Events
> Prepare for a New School Year
> IAQ Checklist: Back to School
> Education Opportunity: A Roadmap to School Indoor Environmental Quality
> Have Your Questions Answered!
NEWS AND EVENTS
• Become an IAQ Tools for Schools National Award Winner! Turn your
application in today for EPA's competitive National Excellence, National
Model of Sustained Excellence and National IAQ Tools for Schools
Connector Awards. Don't delay! Apply by Oct. 8, 2010.
• Encourage Your Students to Participate in the National Radon Poster
Contest! The poster contest is a fun, creative and educational way to
raise radon awareness. The top national winners will each receive an all-
expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Visit the Poster Contest website for
more information.
• Register for the 2011 IAQ Tools for Schools National Symposium!
Join school teachers, administrators and nurses from across the country to
share and learn best practices for implementing and sustaining school IAQ
management programs. The Symposium will be held in Washington, D.C.,
Jan. 13-15, 2011. Reserve your spot today!
• Come Visit the IAQ Tools for Schools Program on the Road! This fall,
the IAQ Tools for Schools Program will have exhibits at two upcoming
conferences—the 87th Annual Council of Educational Facility Planners
International (CEFPI) Conference and Expo in San Jose, Calif., and the
84th Annual American School Health Association Conference in Kansas
City, Mo. If you are attending either of these conferences, come by and
collect school-related IAQ materials!
• Save the Date: Mark your calendars for EPA's Communities in Action
National Asthma Forum, June 9-10, 2011, in Washington, D.C. Registration
will open in late 2010.
ACCESS PAST E-MAIL UPDATES
ONLINE
Can't find a past IAQ Tools for
Schools Update in your e-mail
inbox? No problem! Wish you
could read past editions? You can!
Visit the Update archive to access
printable versions (PDF) of all
past editions on the IAQ Tools for
Schools website.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
The IAQ Tools for Schools
Connector e-mail discussion forum
makes it easy to connect directly
with your peers to share information
and communicate online. Join
today by sending a blank e-mail
message to schools_iaq_connector-
subscribe@lists.epa.gov. Then,
check your e-mail inbox for your
confirmation and membership
details.
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PREPARE FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR
We often talk about the importance of starting the new school year "on the right foot." For most teachers, that means
having lesson plans prepared, setting up the classroom to welcome students and, of course, making sure the classroom
environment is conducive to learning. As research has proven, IAQ is an important element of an effective and safe
learning environment—affecting student performance and productivity. With a busy and productive school year ahead of
you, visit the IAQ and Student Performance website to learn how taking preventive steps now can lead to a fruitful and
successful school year for you and your students.
By implementing strategies offered in the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit, everyone—teachers, administrators, nurses,
facilities maintenance staff and parents—can play a role in preparing for the new school year and create a holistic
approach to maintaining a healthy environment in your school.
Firsthand experience: Click on the video below to hear how a school district has benefited from implementing and
sustaining an IAQ management program based on the IAQ Tools for Schools Program.
IAQ CHECKLIST: BACK TO SCHOOL
Use the following back to school action tips to reinvigorate your school's IAQ management routine and to ensure the new
school year is as healthy, productive and successful as possible! The IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit has checklists for
each aspect of school IAQ management. You can download checklists in PDF or Word formats, which can be tailored to fit
your school's needs.
Conduct a Walkthrough of Your Classrooms. Use the IAQ Tools for
Schools Teacher's Classroom Checklist as a guide to ensure that your
classrooms are clean and safe for your students. Notify facilities staff if you
notice any signs of mold, moisture or other problems.
Control Asthma Triggers. Vacuum carpets and keep fabric-covered
items clean to eliminate dust mites, which may trigger asthma and allergic
reactions. Keep cockroaches and pests out of the classroom by eating food
only in designated areas and keeping it stored in airtight containers.
Ensure Adequate Ventilation. Properly operating heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC) systems are vital for maintaining good IAQ. To guarantee
sufficient airflow and eliminate sources of moisture, keep all items off of HVAC
units. Use the Ventilation Checklist as a reference when checking for pollutant
sources.
Walkthrough Inspection Checklist
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• Speak with School Nurses about Tracking lAQ-Related Symptoms. By using the Health Officer/School Nurse
Checklist to record reliever medication usage by children with asthma and identify other lAQ-related symptoms, your
school nurse may be able to help identify environmental issues in your school. Tracking data can also help evaluate
your school's successes by implementing safe and effective IAQ management strategies.
• Engage Parents All Year Long. Use newsletters or website updates to communicate about your efforts to ensure a
clean, safe learning environment. Encourage parents to ask questions about IAQ and learn more about how the health
of the school buildings can contribute to improved academic performance.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY: A ROADMAP TO SCHOOL INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY
Interested in gaining more insight about indoor environmental quality and how to create a safe learning environment this
school year? Register for "What's Your IEQ? A Roadmap to School Indoor Environmental Quality," a course offered by the
National Education Association's (NEA's) newest online resource, the NEA Academy. This course enables you to assess
your knowledge about indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and helps you identify, prevent and resolve environmental
quality problems in your classroom. Modeled after the IAQ Tools for Schools Program guidance, this course is intended
for schools and other educator workplaces.
Course topics include the basics of IEQ and what factors affect it, the negative health and performance consequences
of poor IEQ, common contaminants and hazards and how to organize effectively to resolve IEQ issues. At no cost to
NEA members, the course is designed for teachers of all grade levels (K-12). Non-NEA members can also obtain course
access by making a request to a local or state NEA affiliate. Register today, and make a commitment to creating a healthy
and safe learning environment for your students!
For more information, watch a video entitled "What's Your IEQ? A Roadmap to School Indoor Environmental Quality."
HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
Is there a topic you want to see covered in an IAQ Tools for Schools Update? Need more information or have a quick
question? Do you have suggestions for a webinar, an Update feature, or are you simply curious about an IAQ topic
and would like more information? If so, send us an e-mail 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 Update. E-mail 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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