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2. As part of its mission, “…to protect human health and the environment, ” EPA is working with various partners, including schools, to share information, resources and tools about Healthy Schools and the importance of environmental health issues. 2

3. 3 Family/Community Involvement Health Education Health Promotion for Staff Healthy School Environment Health Services Physical Education Counseling, Psychological and Social Services Nutrition Services

4. 4 The average child and over 6 million adults nationally spend at least nine hours a day and over 1,200 hours each year in or around a school building. 4

5. 5 EPA’s Healthy Schools Initiative was created to provide accessible resources/tools to prevent and resolve environmental issues in schools. 5

6. Landmark study by William Fisk and Arthur Rosenfeld 6 A clean building saves money and increases performance! 6

7. 7 Take-away messages:  What gets measured gets controlled or fixed.  You don’t know unless you look.  Find problems before they occur.  Reduce exposures.  Create a plan and build your team. 7

8. 8 Evaluate your school building often – it will reveal early warning signals. Tools for Schools (TfS) Action Kit : http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/actionkit.html Call 1-800-490-9198 to order TfS kit 8

9. Four key tips for a Healthy School 1. Provide Quality HVAC 2.Control Moisture/Mold 3.Cleaning and Maintenance 4.Pollutant Source Control 9 9

10. Healthy Schools Tip #1 10 Provide Quality HVAC Use the Ventilation Checklist from the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/actionkit.html 10

11. Healthy Schools Tip #2 Control Moisture/Mold EPA HQ’s Mold website: http://www.epa.gov/moldhttp://www.epa.gov/mold The publication "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings” is available in HTML and PDF (56 pp., 1.6MB) [EPA 402-K-01- 001, reprinted September 2008]"Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings”HTMLPDF 11

12. Develop a Cleaning and Maintenance Program Purchase and use low-emitting products and use only formaldehyde-free materials. www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/clean_maintenance.html http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/envo_products.html 12 Healthy Schools Tip #3 12

13. Create a plan for consistent school walkthrough inspections and implement the plan. Test for radon. Mitigate if necessary. Check for pests and manage pest control. Use the helpful School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Checklist: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/pdfs/kit/checklists/ipmcklst.pdf http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/pdfs/kit/checklists/ipmcklst.pdf Inventory and safely manage school chemicals. Use the following helpful resources for school plans: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/chem_management.html 13 Implement an aggressive pollutant source control plan Healthy Schools Tip #4 13

14. Implement comprehensive tobacco-free schools policies. Establish an anti-idling school bus policy. Use walk-off mats at building entrances. Helpful resources for school plans: www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/chem_management.html 14 Implement an aggressive pollutant source control plan Healthy Schools Tip #4 14

15. Examples of helpful survey forms used to assess building concerns 15

16. Eye irritation Headache Sinus congestion Nose irritation Skin irritation Fatigue 16 Dry throat Cough Sneezing Shortness of breath Dizziness Nausea Warnings Signals and Common Health Impacts 16

17. Chronic health effects and death can result from exposures to: 17 Radon Carbon Monoxide Lead Asbestos Tobacco Smoke Chemicals Biologicals VOCs 17

18. Stressors That Cause Complaints  Thermal discomfort  Air pollutants (inside/outside)  Odors  Excess water/mildew/mold  Poor ventilation  Lighting and glare  Poor acoustics  Ergonomic problems  Job-related problems Understanding if the problem is a “building-related” problem or an individual issue, or both, will help you best define a solution. 18

19. 19 STEP 1 Select an Assessment Coordinator STEP 2 Complete a scheduled school walk-around assessment – Get constant feedback from staff and students throughout the year STEP 3 Create an Assessment Plan STEP 4 Set priorities and take action Remember these 4 EASY Planning STEPS 19

20. 20 No equipment – no problem Start simple: Clipboard Pen Floor plan Put together a building floor plan (Include roof, basement, outside, grounds, and all rooms) Create a checklist 20

21. 21 What you don’t monitor or measure – you don’t know! You don’t know, unless you look. Identify issues before they turn into problems. 21

22. Save the “science projects” for investigation and diagnosing difficult problems Measure what YOU can reasonably interpret !! Temperature and RH% Tracer Smoke CO 2 CO Moisture Meter Light Meter Particle Counter Thermal Imager If you have some funding – Consider these assessment tools: 22 Clipboard and Assessment Checklist What gets measured gets managed, controlled, fixed:

23. 23 Tool Kit items Tracer smoke detector $ 50 Temperature and Relative Humidity detector$ 75 Carbon Dioxide detector$ 450 Carbon Monoxide detector $ 350 Thermal Imager$2,500 Particle counter $3,500 Moisture meter $ 300 Light meter $ 30 Decibel/noise meter $ 90 Total: ($7,345) or $1,345 ( ) If funding is available, consider these tools to help with your assessments: 23

24. o Dry o Clean and comfortable o Control pollutants o Deliver adequate ventilation Key Building Blocks to a Healthy School 24

25. EPA’s Voluntary Guidelines for States: Development and Implementation of a School Environmental Health Program EPA has created these guidelines to help states establish and sustain environmental health programs for K-12 schools. Recommendations, case studies and resources are presented to help states build or enhance healthy school programs. An overview of the guidelines, as well as links to additional information and resources, is available online. For more information on the Voluntary Guidelines: http://www.epa.gov/schools/ehguidelines/ 25

26. EPA's “Voluntary School Siting Guidelines” These guidelines can help local school districts (local education agencies or LEAs) and community members evaluate environmental factors to make the best possible school siting decisions.local education agencies or LEAs A website includes an overview for the guidelines, as well as links to resources and additional information: http://www.epa.gov/schools/siting/ 26

27. As part of its mission, “…to protect human health and the environment,” EPA is working with various partners, including schools, to share information, resources and tools about healthy schools and the importance of environmental health issues. Visit Region 7’s Healthy Schools website: http://www.epa.gov/region7/citizens/schools/index.htm 27

28. Kathleen L. Fenton US EPA Region 7 Office of Public Affairs Healthy Schools 11201 Renner Boulevard Lenexa, KS 66219 913-551-7874 (office) fenton.kathleen@epa.gov fenton.kathleen@epa.gov 913-551-7066 or 913-551-7872 (fax) 1-800-223-0425 28