IAQ Tools for Schools
Find an IAQ Champion
EPA Region 7 Contact
Bob Dye
Email: dye.robert@epa.gov
Phone: (913) 551-7605
Address: 901 North Fifth Street, Mail Code: AWMDAPDB, Kansas City, KS 66101
Region 7 IAQ Champions
Iowa | Kansas | Missouri | Nebraska
Iowa
Indianola Community School District, Indianola, Iowa
Contact: Jim Garrett,
garrettj@indianola.k12.ia.us
Indianola Community School District became aware of the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance through an Iowa Department of Education IAQ Tools for Schools workshop. During walkthroughs, staff found numerous and significant air quality problems. The IAQ Tools for Schools guidance enabled the district to develop a management plan and build team support with teachers and other staff. Initial air quality improvements in a pilot program at an elementary school have led to implementation of the program district-wide.
Kansas
Beth Marolf, American Lung Association of Kansas, Topeka, Kan.
Contact: Beth Marolf,
bmarolf@breathehealthy.org
EPA selected Beth Marolf as the first recipient of the Mentor of the Year Award for her outstanding achievement in promoting IAQ Tools for Schools. As the IAQ Tools for Schools Project Coordinator for American Lung Association of Kansas, she provided significant training and technical assistance to schools and formed IAQ management partnerships with hospitals, health clinics, and county health departments. She utilized a variety of methods to communicate the benefits of the program such as public marketing through local media, health fairs, conferences, and specialty publications developed for school administrators, maintenance staff, and parent-teacher organizations. Ms. Marolf also utilized an interactive satellite network to reach diverse populations and to train facilitators and school personnel in remote locations about the importance of IAQ management in schools.
Blue Valley School District #229, Overland Park, Kan.
Contact: Dave Hill, dhill@bluevalleyk12.org
The District, a winner of a 2003 Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Excellence Award, has shown tremendous leadership in its enthusiasm to explore innovative solutions to create exceptional indoor learning environments. Blue Valley has made IAQ management an integral component of its Strategic Plan, prioritizing target goals and institutional supports. Their success includes an active mentorship program providing leadership, education, and positive impacts to school districts in Kansas and Missouri. They have also adopted new protocols including low moisture carpet cleaners, Green Seal Certified cleaning chemicals, improved pest management procedures, dust control floor cleaning machines, micro fiber cleaning programs, and diesel bus retrofit initiatives. Recently, Blue Valley School District received full funding for a seven year comprehensive district-wide building envelope plan and major mechanical systems upgrade and replacement program, totaling more than $26 million in capital funds.
Wichita Public Schools — USD 259, Wichita, Kan.
Contact: Tim Phares,
tphares@usd259.net
Proactive is the hallmark of this district's program, which won the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Excellence Award in 2005. Its efforts begin with each school building having an onsite registered nurse trained to communicate any potential issues to the district's Environmental Services staff. Training is also emphasized, whether online or in-service. IAQ investigations are generated through a work order system; indoor air quality is also part of the annual safety inspection of all school buildings. Written protocols have been incorporated into the district's Safety and Health Manual. IAQ surveys and reports are also widely disseminated. All of these factors make for sustainable incorporation of the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance in the Wichita Public Schools.
Missouri
Independence School District, Independence, Mo.
Contact: Bob Robinson,
brobinson@indep.k12.mo.us
Independence School District (ISD) began working with the American Lung Association's Open Airways Program to help students manage their asthma and identify asthma triggers in school buildings. Health problems, such as sinus infections, bronchitis, and asthma, reported by staff prompted ISD to explore IAQ Tools for Schools. Facilities staff now use IAQ Tools for Schools checklists during regular building walkthroughs and have implemented a few routine cleaning practices for better maintenance, including changing filters every four months and notifying schools before pesticides are applied on school grounds. ISD maintains positive community relations, working with Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse to collect building supply donations for IAQ projects. ISD staff are proactive in addressing complaints and have established a strong partnership with the City of Independence Health Department, earning the district positive recognition throughout the community.
Nebraska
Omaha Public Schools, Omaha, Neb.
Contact: Shelley Bengston,
shelley.bengtson@ops.org
Since receiving EPA's National Excellence Award in 2006, the Omaha Public Schools IAQ program has quickly taken their efforts to a higher level. Both the IAQ Team and coordinator have helped the district foster a culture where staff members now constantly seek out opportunities to improve IAQ. Mechanical and building systems, occupant activities, and cleaning and maintenance procedures are all reviewed for their potential detrimental impact on the indoor environment. Another cornerstone of Omaha's program is internal and external communication. All IAQ-related happenings are shared with staff members and the public via regular Web site postings, public meetings, and handbook and guidance revisions. In addition to this network, Omaha has utilized many state and local agencies that have offered guidance or provided technical review of proposed approaches to district IAQ problems. Omaha's leadership extends beyond their own community through their mentoring of other organizations and programs, including the Nebraska School Chemical Cleanout Campaign, where the district's chemical management plan was used as the prototype throughout the state. The program has taken great strides to ensure future financial sustainability by spreading out the cost of IAQ-related repairs across the entire Building and Grounds Department budget.
Scott Middle School, Lincoln, Neb.
Contact: Scott Wieskamp, swieska@lps.org
Scott Middle School implements the IAQ Tools for Schools Kit in a creative way. The school formed not one but five IAQ management teams of teachers. Teachers use checklists to identify IAQ problems and take their findings back to their teams. This process happens twice a year and has led to improvements. For example, the school has documented high levels of formaldehyde, an issue that has been resolved by bringing in more fresh air. School personnel detected outside air pollutants wafting into the building from an illegal construction site trash fire, a problem which was easily fixed. Scott Middle School is seeing good results from this work. Before implementation of IAQ Tools for Schools, several children were diagnosed with symptoms of early respiratory complaints. The school's health office reported no such problems since the introduction of IAQ Tools for Schools.