1. DNR and Iowa Schools Good Morning
Thank you for having me speak to you for a few minutes this morning on activities the Dept. of Natural Resources has had with Iowa schools over the last few years.

2. DNR and Iowa Schools
The Department has and continues to provide financial and technical assistance to Iowa schools covering such areas as:
waste reduction and recycling
electronic waste
chemical management and disposal
science safety
Here is a brief list of many of the activities we have provided financial assistance for.
I realize some of these activities are not necessarily the focus of today’s meeting.
But I wanted to show that the Dept. has been providing assistance to Iowa schools on several levels over the years.

3. Waste Reduction and Recycling
$250,400 in financial assistance has been awarded to 9 Iowa schools
typical projects include
recycling
composting
education
presentations
Pretty straight forward projects.
Most dealing with schools looking to begin recycling programs. Principally dealing with classroom paper and the tin, plastic and cardboard through their food service.

4. Electronics
In 2003, the Dept. initiated a series of electronics collection events
Contracted with Recycle America - eCycling Services (subsidiary of Waste Management)
Letters sent to all schools and AEA offices
Nearly 100 registrations received
9 collection events held across the state, typically at AEA office locations
This project was spearheaded by Merry Rankin and occurred about the time electronic waste began getting recognition as a problem solid waste stream.
In terms of tonnage, electronics is a huge waste stream and getting larger that contributes several heavy metals and other toxic chemicals to the waste stream.

5. Electronics Collection events results: Monitors: 114,800 lbs
TVs: 6,278 pounds
CPUs: 33,418 lbs
Other electronics: 56,979 lbs
Total pounds collected : 211,475
Schools and AEA offices were required to pay $5 for participating, a minimal fee but a fee none-the-less.
Participants were also charged $5 for each CRT after their 3rd CRT.
Recovered approximately 10.5 tons of lead, mostly from the CRTs.
Total cost was $54,000 or which the AEAs/schools paid $18,300 (34%)
We allowed a non-profit called Digital Aid to attend the collection events and remove materials usable to them. Digital Aid refurbishes computers and ships them to African schools.

6. Safe Schools Program
Phase I - contracted for design and development of an education CD addressing:
National Science Education Standards
Research documenting the need for safety in secondary schools
Applicable Federal and State laws (Right-To-Know, laboratory standards, bloodborne pathogens, etc.)
This was a 2 Phase project.
Phase I basically called for development of a CD containing information on several issues important to teachers and school administrators. This slide and the next show many of the topics contained on the CD.
The Dept. getting involved with school chemical safety was championed by Becky W. when Becky worked for the DNR.

7. Safe Schools Program cont.
National Professional Science Education Standards
Standard, customizable teacher/student science safety forms
Safety checklists for classrooms, labs, storerooms, preprooms, etc.
Proper chemical management topics (labeling, storage, chemical hazard assessment, disposal)
I still have nightmares of Becky’s mantra…..
But Tom, its for the kids…..
But Tom, its for the kids….
But Tom…
Reminds me of someone teaching a parrot to talk.
Ultimately we were convinced to spend the money. I think it was worth it.

8. Safe Schools Program cont.
Pilot training for 20 schools on use of the CD
Then training sessions were held at each Iowa’s 13 AEAs on use of the CD for additional schools
Pre / post-training evaluation for schools
The CD was full of very useful, comprehensive information and designed in such a way that the information was easily located and accessed.
I think the CD training went pretty well.
17 workshops were held for school administrators and teachers.
Wouldn’t be surprised if some teachers and administrators left the training with the hair standing up on the back of their necks in fear.

9. Safe Schools Program
Phase II involved conducting the following at Iowa schools:
Assessment of each school’s science Dept.
Identification, management and coordinate disposal of high hazard chemicals and controlled substances (101 targeted chemicals)
Conduct on-site chemical inventory training
Recommendations for waste minimization, proper storage, and safe management
Phase II involved hiring a contractor to conduct an assessment, inventory chemicals, and conduct on-site training regarding safe chemical management in each classroom.
Pointer Environmental, now Terracon, went through each classroom lab identifying high hazards, storage concerns, chemicals to refer to our disposal partners, listed on the next slide.

10. Safe Schools Program cont.
Phase II results:
66 schools participated in Phase I and Phase II (original target was 40 schools)
1,134 containers of targeted chemicals and 367 unmarked containers identified
994 containers directed to the State Fire Marshall’s Office
26 containers directed to Dept. of Public Health
1 container directed to DEA
remaining containers self-managed
There was no cost to the school to have chemicals disposed of through the Fire Marshal’s Office, the Public Health Dept. or the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Fire Marshal’s Office handled explosives.
Public Health handled radioactive materials
DEA handled drugs…basically
Becky did a great job of building partnerships and using creative ways to get these agencies to help with disposal. For example, if something was to be detonated, it was in the name of “training” for some agency, bomb squad, whatever.
To Becky however, it was simply an opportunity to see something blow up.

11. Safe Schools Program Conclusions / Recommendations:
Most schools contained targeted chemicals , knew of their danger, but did not have the means to dispose of them
Many schools do not have adequate chemical management policies
Teachers have uneven levels of expertise and interest in managing hazardous chemicals
Was interesting to hear the response of different teachers.
Some would not give up targeted chemicals without having them pried from their hands.
Others did not want nor use the targeted chemicals.
Others had no idea what the chemicals were or would never use them and were thankful to have them removed.
It was shortly after Phase II was in the works that Becky left the Dept. for Metro Waste Authority and started the Rehab The Lab Program in Iowa.

12. Safe Schools Program cont.
School enrollment figures is not a good predictor of the quantity of targeted chemicals
School budgets dictate level of action
Becky had really brought safe schools to the front burner for many people - parents, legislators, and school districts.
This first step into school chemicals focused on school labs. However,
As we all know school labs are only one place where hazardous chemicals are found and/or stored in a dangerous fashion.
Art rooms, custodial closets, behind the boiler, shop classrooms, etc. are other places to look.