vxEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
2011 NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
WASHINGTON, DC JANUARY 13-15, 2011
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
Award Winners 2010
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
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National Connector Award
Arthur N. Pierfy - Rockaway Township School
District
Rockaway, N.J.
Arthur N. Pierfy has made it his mission to improve IAQ in schools
across the state of New Jersey. For more than 20 years he has worked
in school environmental facilities management and, in accordance with
New Jersey IAQ regulatory standards, has been named by Rockaway
Township School District as a Designated Person for the district.
Over the past decade Peirfy has implemented several ambitious, state-
wide initiatives to properly manage IAQ concerns and has met with great
success. He used his years of firsthand IAQ management experience to
organize workshops and training materials to assist schools across the
state in meeting IAQ regulatory standards. Many schools lacked the
resources and expertise to develop effective IAQ management plans
and, without Pierfy's assistance, would not have been able to meet these
standards. In his own school district he organizes health and safety
committees to address IAQ and other environmental concerns, and
evaluate the successes of remediation. Pierfy also developed a school
environment IAQ checklist for assessing and addressing environmental
complaints. The checklist has been distributed to all 613 state
school districts.
Through the IAQ program, Pierfy continually assesses and evaluates
facilities and regularly trains IAQ staff. He has established clear lines of
communication with his staff and the community and emphasizes that
students, educators and community members do not need to settle for an
uncomfortable environment: there is a solution for every IAQ concern.
Boston Urban Asthma Coalition
Dorchester, Mass
The Boston Urban Asthma Coalition has successfully advocated for
asthma-friendly schools and environmental policies in Boston Public
Schools since 2002. The coalition's approach includes collaborating
with a city-wide Healthy Schools Taskforce (HST), which was formed
in 2003 following a City Council meeting attended by parents, teachers,
custodians and students affected by asthma.
The coalition has fully embodied a leadership role in asthma management
in Boston through a multi-pronged effort to address environmental
asthma triggers. Since 2005 the coalition has advised Environmental
Committees in 22 schools through a city-wide "wellness" initiative
resulting in increased awareness about school building conditions
that affect asthma, health and learning. Additionally, the coalition has
implemented six annual environmental audits of Boston's 138 school
buildings. In 2008, the coalition spearheaded the development of a
state-wide asthma advocacy partnership, the Massachusetts Asthma
Advocacy Partnership.
Parent leaders and school union representatives are involved with
the coalition, provide routine communication and feedback about the
effectiveness of HST policies and best practices and educate city officials
about asthma and the need to repair school buildings. Despite significant
maintenance and capital budget cuts in the past few years, 2010 annual
audit data of asthma trigger levels, as compared to 2004-2009 data,
indicate decreases in several key areas, such as pest problems, clutter
and leaks.
Illinois Education Association IAQ Task Force
Springfield, III.
In 2005, a small group of concerned school employees banded together
to raise awareness about IAQ in their own school district. Their
determination and commitment to the issue evolved into Illinois' first
IAQ coalition. Now, comprising 11 members representing all areas of the
state, the Illinois Education Association IAQ Task Force advocates for
healthy school environments.
The Task Force educates administrators, facilities management workers,
teachers, nurses and principals about the importance of healthy indoor
environments and highlights the IAQ Tools for Schools Program's Six
Key Drivers as the gold-standard approach in effective IAQ management.
Each year, members of the Task Force speak at a variety of local and state
meetings and conferences, provide materials to school districts across
the state and encourage these districts to implement the IAQ Tools for
Schools Program.
In the past year, the Task Force has also raised awareness about IAQ
through several exciting incentive programs, including an IAQ Tools for
Schools Action Kit giveaway and emphasis of the group's tagline 'Best
Educational Environment Possible' and logo. In addition, the Task Force
supports the National Radon Poster Contest and encourages Illinois
teachers to incorporate radon risk education into the classroom.
National Excellence Award
Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District
Carrollton, Texas
The Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District recognized
that managing IAQ was critical to ensure the health and safety of school
building occupants. In 2002, the district developed a TEAMS (Tools for
Schools, Energy, Asbestos, Moisture Management, Safety and Security)
approach to managing school environments and established a team to
identify and address health and safety issues.
The IAQ Tools for Schools Program was instrumental in helping the
district develop policies and educational tools within the TEAMS
framework. TEAMS members, who represent a wide spectrum of district
employees, such as the Nurse Manager, Environmental Specialist,
Custodial Lead and Athletic Director, are all trained in the IAQ Tools for
Schools Program. At the start of each school year, members set out to
instill the Program's core principles in the faculty, staff and students at
each campus in the district.
The district's IAQ Report Flow Chart is a visual representation of
TEAMS in action, addressing an identified IAQ issue from start to finish.
Additionally, an innovative 'Map and Track' system allows TEAMS
members to plot and track reported and observed leaks and evidence
of moisture intrusion and subsequently determine the level of action
required to address it.
One of the most inspiring aspects of the TEAMS approach is that it is
not sustained through mandated policies; the TEAMS approach exists to
educate the community and explain issues that can negatively impact the
learning environment. Principals and campus leaders can then establish
policies to suit the needs of their students. It is because of this integrative
approach that faculty and campus leadership take full program ownership
and ensure its continued implementation.
NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM I JANUARY l;
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National Award Winners 2010
Frederick County Public Schools
Frederick, Md.
In 1989, Frederick County Public Schools launched its IAQ management
program, not in response to a specific IAQ problem or negative headline,
but because the district's leaders recognized the critical importance of
healthy school environments to their educational mission. The district has
maintained their proactive approach to IAQ decision-making throughout
the past two decades and reaped the benefits of an early and smart
approach to IAQ.
With senior management support, a multi-disciplinary team of IAQ,
industrial hygiene, construction, custodial, maintenance and architecture
professionals, developed the district's first IAQ management plan.
Subsequently, the team created Maintenance Clusters to organize and
divide maintenance responsibilities across small groups of schools and
streamline necessary repairs. The team institutionalized a Building
Maintenance and Repair tracking system to identify IAQ needs at the
individual building level and developed "Standards for the Design
of New and Renovation Facilities" to ensure IAQ management is
incorporated from the very start of any new construction or renovation.
Since the early 1990s, the district has avoided the use of toxic chemicals,
instead using low volatile organic chemical (VOC) paints, carpets
and adhesives. Operations staff also use a zero-VOC floor finish that
eliminates the need for frequent stripping, reducing use of chemicals
from school facilities and the environment by 34 tons each year.
Finally, the district helps maintain healthy indoor air by ensuring that
HVAC equipment is easily accessible to facilitate the maintenance and
replacement of air filters.
The county continually encourages open and honest communication
about IAQ issues. For example, the district accepts IAQ complaints
in a variety of ways, including work orders, phone calls or e-mails.
The IAQ management team also conducts annual assessments through
customer satisfaction surveys to improve their service from year to year.
Greendale School District
Greendale, Wis.
Greendale School District introduced the IAQ Tools for Schools Program
in the mid-2000s in hopes that it would provide a guide for improving
their maintenance program. The addition of IAQ personnel and IAQ
trainings helped the district to integrate the IAQ Tools for Schools
approach in its facilities management program. By 2008, the entire
district had implemented the Program; all administrators are trained in
IAQ and the district's leaders are focused on educating parents about the
importance of IAQ.
With the help of the new IAQ staff, the district established an IAQ
management plan and facility maintenance occurred according to an
established strategy: regular duct system cleaning; inspection of roofing
materials and replacement and repair to reduce risks; and facility
inspections throughout the year to identify IAQ risks early, allowing time
to plan the appropriate response. Inspection results helped the facilities
staff recognize an opportunity to prevent mold growth by running HVAC
fans longer both after school and during the summer. Additional proactive
IAQ management actions include replacing chalkboards with white
boards, using green cleaning products and microfiber cleaning cloths,
replacing carpeting and introducing a de-cluttering policy throughout the
district.
Greendale's commitment to healthy school environments has evolved
into a holistic approach to environmental management. The district
implemented policies to improve and protect outdoor air quality in areas
that children frequent, including relocating school bus loading areas
farther away from schools and limiting bus idling time. In addition, the
district initiated a recycling program resulting in significantly reduced
waste management costs. Funds saved as a result of these environmental
management practices have remained in custodial budgets and are used
for IAQ preventive maintenance efforts. It is thoughtful changes like
these that clearly demonstrate Greendale's commitment to creating
healthy school environments.
Northshore School District 417
Bothell, Wash.
Northshore School District formed an IAQ team in the mid-2000s in an
effort to improve IAQ throughout the district. Seeking to build a "best in
class" IAQ management program, the district implemented the IAQ Tools
for Schools Program in 2008 and has since fully engaged the Program's
Framework and Six Key Drivers of Success in the pursuit
of excellence.
Northshore's current IAQ program is truly a team effort, including
students, teachers, staff, IAQ coordinators and administrators. This
diverse participation has enabled Northshore to provide innovative,
meaningful and effective solutions to IAQ issues. The district's IAQ
initiatives range from a student-led emissions study to assess the impact
of bus idling, to in-class training on IAQ risks and how to prevent them,
to implementation of a comprehensive preventative maintenance program
to support IAQ goals.
Through monitoring, analysis and reporting of IAQ program initiatives,
the district is able to evaluate progress, identify areas for future
improvement and measure the program's long-term successes. The
district has reduced reported IAQ issues to less than one per month per
school, which represents a 40% reduction over previous years.
Novato Unified School District
Novato, Calif.
Novato Unified School District was confronted with a serious IAQ
incident in 2001, prompting the need to more closely examine and
manage IAQ. Beginning with a volunteer IAQ Steering Committee
in 2003, the IAQ conversation evolved, eventually resulting in the
introduction of the IAQ Tools for Schools Program in pilot schools.
At the same time, the district launched a leased online IAQ survey
to assess typical behaviors, maintenance practices and perceived air
quality in the original pilot schools. In 2009, the district designed and
launched its own customized online survey tool. The tool has proven to
be extremely useful for tracking IAQ and, along with the IAQ Tools for
Schools Program, has been progressively implemented throughout
the district.
During the 2008-2009 school year, the district established a School
Board-level Sustainability Committee. This committee now considers
IAQ, integrated pest management (IPM), recycling, organic gardens
and energy conservation issues in its advisory capacity to the Board.
Additionally, the entire district transitioned to green cleaning supplies, at
no additional cost, including eliminating bleach and toxic floor strippers
by switching to an aqueous-based floor coating for gym floors. The
enforcement of existing policies, such as a ban on unapproved substances
brought into the classroom, has also played an important role in the
success of the district's IAQ management program.
The number of IAQ complaints from participating district schools has
dropped significantly in the last several years and the district continues to
emphasize preventative versus reactive measures as the program expands.
NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM I JANUARY 13-15,
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National Model of Sustained
Excellence Award
The Baltimore County Public Schools
Baltimore, Md.
Since winning the IAQ Tools for Schools National Excellence Award in
2007, the Baltimore County Public Schools has continued expanding its
IAQ management plan. The county successfully incorporated the final
group of 54 schools into the IAQ program in 2008 and has established
IAQ teams at all county schools. In response to this growth, the county
modified the coordinator training program and established an annual
training for new coordinators, as well as current coordinators who need
a refresher.
IAQ concerns now receive the highest priority in the school district's
maintenance work order system, resulting in quick resolution of
potential problems. The county has also introduced IAQ into
construction and renovation specifications. They have seen a tremendous
reduction in reactive spending for IAQ issues due to a firm emphasis on
preventative maintenance.
The county also improved communication on IAQ findings in schools
by modifying the walk-through checklist to include a summary page to
report key findings, recommendations and resolutions. An IAQ newsletter
keeps staff up-to-date on IAQ issues and on how they have a positive
impact on IAQ. The county is also fully invested in educating others
about the importance of healthy school environments and has presented
at the Maryland/District of Columbia Association of School Business
Officials. In addition, the county is mentoring another school district
through the IAQ management plan development process.
North East Independent School District
San Antonio, Texas
Since North East Independent School District received the IAQ Tools for
Schools National Excellence Award in 2008, it has engaged in a rigorous
effort to institutionalize its IAQ management plan. As a part of this
process, the district revised its custodial services management practices,
implemented a green cleaning program and developed a "Campus
Analysis" internal accountability system to integrate independent school
and student databases into one data analysis system to be used in strategic
planning. The district constructed two LEED-certified schools and
specified Green Guard-approved furniture and classroom furnishings be
used for all renovations and improvements within the district. Equally as
significant, the district moved 202 classrooms that were once held
in portable buildings into brick-framed permanent two story
classroom buildings.
North East consistently communicates with internal and external
audiences about healthy indoor environments. It produces a variety of
print materials to be distributed at health fairs and its popular "Asthma
Blow Out" events and publishes a newsletter that is distributed to all
district staff. In order to educate students about asthma management and
indoor environments, the IAQ curriculum is now integrated into a year-
long "Healthy Lifestyles" freshman health course.
The district's IAQ management plan also called for the implementation of
a comprehensive health data reporting system. In early 2010, the district
implemented HealthCheck, a health data collecting and reporting system
that enables the district to track problems that may have been caused by
IAQ issues in a school. This tool also facilitates prioritization of funding,
training and other resources to areas identified by IAQ
data trends.
Keller Independent School District
Keller, Texas
Keller Independent School District's commitment to providing healthy
indoor environments in schools has evolved into a strategic focus on
environmental stewardship over the past several years. The district
has committed to creating sustainable processes and high-quality
environments that enhance teaching and learning as part of its five year
strategic plan.
The district enjoyed a tremendous community response after receiving
the IAQ Tools for Schools National Excellence Award in 2009 and
maintaining good IAQ has become a part of the district's culture.
Facilities are expected to meet IAQ standards, and parents that were
previously uninvolved in environmental activities have joined school
Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and look forward to presentations
about IAQ. Frequent meetings and trainings keep staff and administrators
up to date on the program and provide an opportunity to explain changes
in IAQ policies.
Continuous assessment of school buildings through IAQ walkthroughs
and annual occupant surveys remain the foundation of the district's IAQ
program. Newly constructed buildings are assessed within the first six
months and staff is trained on IAQ policies.
The district has transformed into an IAQ leader in North Texas. It
participates in EPA Region 6 environmental health meetings and is
currently partnering with Cooks Children's Health Care System on an
initiative titled "The Decade of the Child: Healthy Children 2020." This
partnership will connect the district with a leading health service provider
to share data and resources to help expand asthma management and
awareness in the community.
NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM I JANUARY 13-15,
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