2004 Excellence Award Winners

Burlington School District has overcome a tight budget and aging facilities to become a statewide leader and mentor in promoting good IAQ for students and staff. Burlington emphasized broad cooperation, clever low-cost fixes, and good communication. The district implemented an anti-idling policy and employed direct communications and cooperation with vendors, which helped solve IAQ problems created by air intakes located near loading docks at two schools. Burlington utilized multiple grants to purchase HEPA vacuum cleaners and to make improvements in several school HVAC systems. A new emergency response system enables school or community members to report IAQ concerns by writing a simple ticket, establishing a detailed tracking system, and allowing the district to respond quickly to concerns. The effects have been remarkable, demonstrated by a drop in one school's annual absenteeism rates among asthmatic students from 31 days to 2 days in just one year.

• Contact: Betsy Liley, (802) 865-5383

One of the nation’s 25 largest school districts, Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CMS), is rapidly growing and facing unique challenges. The district comprises 148 schools, half of which have established IAQ programs and half of which are set to have IAQ programs in place by summer 2005. With nine new schools constructed over the past two years, new building design is another priority for the district. They are striving to build healthy, high-performance schools by following EPA’s IAQ Design Tools for Schools guidance. The district developed a formal IAQ manual, emphasized training to promote broad participation, and has procedures in place to respond immediately to all indoor air quality concerns quickly and efficiently. CMS has worked closely with the University of Tulsa, an EPA grantee, to put these training programs and procedures in place.

• Contact: Kenny Boggs, (980) 343-8632

Cypress-Fairbanks (Cy-Fair) is one of the 50 largest school districts in the country and is located in a climate that can promote mold growth and other IAQ hazards. Cy-Fair has met its challenges by developing significant in-house expertise. For example, 17 employees trained in mold assessment and remediation saved the district funds by doing mold remediation in the summer while building up the team's skills. By applying the full range of IAQ TfS recommendations, this program has established credibility and confidence in the district's ability to address IAQ issues. Teachers, staff, parents, and administrators know their IAQ concerns are heard and acted upon in an effective and timely manner.

• Contact: Jim Foxx, (281) 897-4195

Elk River Area Schools have been pioneers in IAQ program design, having spent more than $20 million over the past 10 years to improve IAQ and maintain healthy schools. They are fortunate enough to have a dedicated source of funds from bond issues. They have implemented proactive IAQ management practices by providing annual reminders to all staff about how to register IAQ concerns and by conducting regular walk-through inspections of the school facilities. In recent years, Elk River has emphasized research and resource development. Their efforts were the subject of a University of Minnesota School of Medicine study that measured the carbon dioxide reduction and health effects of improved ventilation on students and staff. With support from the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance, the district created a guidebook for school board members. These efforts, along with direct consultations with other districts, help spread positive practices well beyond Elk River.

• Contact: Dr. Ron Bratlie, (763) 241-3402

Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) experienced an unusual and expensive IAQ problem when a smoke and chemical backup during a roof replacement led to the medical treatment of students and staff and required a $450,000 cleanup effort. Fortunately, administrators and teachers responded to this crisis by working together and improving communication. The local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers brought IAQ TfS to the attention of the district administrators and, along with the National Education Association, provided grant funding for IAQ training. Initial walk-through inspections revealed technical problems, such as closed dampers and clogged filters. Addressing problems that had existed for years, such as inadequate ventilation in the classrooms and asthma triggers, became higher priorities once channels of communication had improved and response procedures were in place. While continuing to resolve existing problems, JCPS is focusing on the future by introducing best practices for IAQ, implementing an EPA Grant, "A Breath of Fresh Air," and introducing a green cleaning pilot program in eight schools while serving as an IAQ mentor for other Alabama school districts.

• Contact: Ronald Rhodes, (205) 379-2225

The success of Kent School District (KSD) is largely a result of constant and innovative communication. IAQ information is included in the orientation program for new administrative staff. Custodians receive semi-annual training. All employees receive a weekly electronic newsletter featuring tips on preventing and identifying IAQ problems. Engaging parents has also been a priority. When an IAQ issue has a potential impact on a group of students, their parents are notified by letter and automated phone message with key medical information and a clear explanation of how the problem is to be addressed. Last year, KSD received an IAQ TfS Leadership Award from EPA. Their improvement continues.

• Contact: Beth Gilbertson, (253) 373-7052

Mankato Area Public Schools are second generation Excellence Award winners. Their team has been mentored by New Ulm School District, which received an Excellence Award in 2000. Mankato has engaged the entire staff in the process of identifying and resolving IAQ issues. In addition to a convenient and efficient complaint process, the district sends an annual survey to each employee, thereby drawing attention to situations that had not yet generated complaints or illness. Training is similarly thorough. All administrators and principals receive an annual overview of the IAQ program, while frontline personnel receive detailed updates.

• Contact: Joe Meixl, (507) 345-5311

A large district facing aging facilities, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) established an air quality committee in 1996 and was an early adopter of the IAQ TfS Program. In 1998, the MPS Facilities Division augmented its existing air quality activities with EPA’s IAQ TfS Program. During the past two years, the district administration has utilized grant monies from EPA Region 5 to facilitate health fairs and teacher training on IAQ issues. Teachers in 10 schools have been participating in a classroom survey pilot program in conjunction with Fight Asthma Milwaukee. The survey has an 80 percent response rate. The result has been a sense of empowerment by the teachers and staff to take charge of their own indoor environments to reduce air quality incidences, promote good will, and, in turn, reduce absenteeism. Being recognized by EPA as a 2004 Excellence Award recipient, helps send a message to the school community that MPS is providing a healthy, nurturing environment for its students and staff.

• Contact: Jeff Spence, (414) 475-8284

North Haven Public Schools experienced mold problems in 2002 and 2003. Adverse publicity harmed the image of the school system, and absenteeism rose noticeably. Quinnipiac Valley Health District provided assistance and encouraged NHPS leaders to use IAQ TfS, which was seen as an effective method of addressing the problems. Walk-through inspections revealed that most of the IAQ issues could be addressed through low-impact measures, such as cleaning or equipment calibration, and North Haven was quick to share information and engage the community. A parent sits on each school-based board, findings from inspections are immediately reported to parent-teacher organizations, and district officials have appeared on local access television to explain the program. Community trust has improved, and the leadership of the teachers’ union has praised the district’s quick response to IAQ issues.

• Contact: Jack Levine, (203) 239-2581

Florida’s climate presents special challenges for IAQ, an issue with which Pinellas County Schools (PCS) is well aware. More than 10 years ago, a major mold outbreak in an elementary school caused an epidemic of bronchitis, headaches, and ear infections, which forced the school to close for 18 months and cost $1 million to repair. The school was only one year old at the time. Located in Florida’s most densely populated county, PCS also faces tight budget constraints and is forced to rely on temporary buildings. After the mold outbreak, PCS adopted a management plan and appointed a single coordinator to standardize responses to IAQ concerns. The emphasis is on prevention and prioritization. Integrated Pest Management, radon screening, and other procedures help to prevent future problems. The district initially implements short-term fixes to address any problems that arise, and then seeks to identify long-term solutions.

• Contact: Thomas C. Ladun, (727) 547-7180

Rapid City Area School District No. 51-4 (RCAS) exemplifies the importance of resourceful champions in producing results, especially given the fact that the district experienced no IAQ crisis. Leah Lutheran addressed IAQ as a private citizen, and was elected to the school board in 1998. Since that time, RCAS has mainstreamed IAQ into daily policies and procedures and has drawn upon a variety of available resources. The South Dakota Lung Association provided the district with their initial IAQ TfS Kits. A grant from the American Association of School Administrators allowed a six-member delegation to attend the IAQ TfS Symposium in 2002. EPA’s Region 8 office awarded Rapid City a grant and they were instrumental in assisting with the implementation of IAQ TfS in the school district. EPA’s Region 8 office also sponsored a workshop for administrators, nurses, and custodial staff. Two schools that performed HVAC system upgrades documented a decline in absenteeism of almost five percent.

• Contact: Leah Lutheran, (605) 342-0719

Spokane Public Schools (SPS) faced challenges associated with a series of 30-year-old school buildings with similar designs and chronic IAQ problems stemming from inadequate ventilation and other design issues. In the early nineties, the tensions caused by continual IAQ issues affected staff morale and the learning environment. With the introduction of the IAQ TfS Program in 1995, SPS identified many solutions to their problems, from best practices in new buildings to avoidance of asthma triggers. With school nurses emphasizing the health issues for students and a Citizen’s Advisory Committee with members from each school, SPS helped create a constructive environment for problem solving. Spokane’s involvement with the American Association of School Administrators’ Urban Resource Coalition rejuvenated the IAQ management process in the district. The growing public understanding of the nature of IAQ problems facilitated the passage of bonds to finance long-term solutions through HVAC and other capital upgrades.

• Contact: Larry Hagel, (509) 353-5274