Blue Valley School District, Overland Park, KS

In 2000, Blue Valley School District (BVSD) launched an IAQ management program to address increased parent interest in environmental issues, counter the risks of a public relations disaster like the one that occurred when a neighboring district closed a school for IAQ problems, and ensure outstanding learning environments for their students. BVSD created an interdisciplinary IAQ team that includes design and construction, safety, energy, operations and maintenance and custodial functions. A designated IAQ coordinator leads the team, and everyone in the district knows he is the ‘go to guy’ for IAQ. The team also includes an executive-level leader who relays the team’s goals and investment needs to the district’s strategic planning committee.

“Before adopting IAQ Tools for Schools, we had a lot of successful, but…unrelated pieces in place for managing our environments… IAQ Tools for Schools gave us a framework for organizing; it provided the comprehensive approach we needed…to pull it all together, strengthen our existing practices…and get more out of our work.” Dave Hill, Executive Director, BVSD Facilities and Operations

Results:

• Fewer per capita IAQ concerns each year.
• Reduced operating costs through IAQ upgrades (e.g., $23,000 energy savings at one school in one year).
• Rise in test scores every year since program began (highest ACT scores in the state; four of the six top-ranked schools in the state are in BVSD).
• Marked decrease in lost instructional time due to facility problems.