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) ------- 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; ------- 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, ------- 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, ------- |