Region 15 Joins the Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Air Quality Program “Tools for Schools”

   Region 15 joins a growing list of Connecticut school systems taking a leadership role in providing a safe, comfortable and productive environment for students and staff by implementing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Indoor Air Quality program called “Tools for Schools” (TfS).
   Three years ago, Pomperaug High School spearheaded the TfS program within the district.  The program which is designed to monitor and improve indoor air quality in schools by following specific guidelines established by the EPA has now become a district wide priority.
   According to the EPA, there is a growing concern regarding health problems linked to poor indoor air quality in buildings, including school facilities.  The EPA estimates that human exposure to air pollutants can be 2 to 5 times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels.
   Under the direction of Region 15’s Director of Finance and Operations, Keith McLiverty, each of the Region’s seven schools were asked to assemble a team of five to six representatives comprised of administrators, parents, school nurses, custodians and teachers.
   Each team was introduced to the TfS program during a three hour training session conducted by Joan Simpson and Diane Ethier, from the CT Department of Public Health.
   “Indoor air quality problems in schools can result from a variety of factors,” said Ms. Ethier.  “Some of these problems include reduced ventilation to save energy, delayed maintenance needs, increased use of synthetic building materials, furnishings and other specific contaminants,” she explained.
   During the training session, teams learned how indoor air contaminants can originate within the building or be drawn in from outdoors.
   Typical sources of indoor air pollutants in schools include:  HVAC equipment with improper venting or dust and debris in ductwork; emissions from office equipment such as copiers and printers; microbiological growth from soiled or water damaged materials; supplies used in science labs or vocational arts areas; cleaning products; dry-erase markers; insects and other pests.
   The U.S. Government Accounting Office reports that 50 percent of all U.S. school buildings have at least one environmental problem which affects the quality of indoor air.
   The TfS program relies on using a specially designed Action Kit and following the key principles that are outlined.  Each kit provides all the necessary tools to promote low cost problem solving and help develop long term strategies to solve indoor air quality problems.
   “So many of these problems can be prevented or resolved by using the resources of our school community and the skills we have learned from this training,” said Mr. McLiverty.
   "Using the proactive measures in the Tools for Schools kit, we can prevent indoor air quality problems before they even arise,” he explained.
   Over the next few months, each building’s Team Coordinator will utilize the TfS Action Kit and begin to implement the following steps:  Teachers and staff will be trained on how to use and complete a checklist to assess the status of their classroom or applicable area of their school, regarding such things as general cleanliness; excess moisture in rooms; thermal comfort; ventilation and educational supplies.
   Once problematic, as well as positive findings, are tabulated, the information will be used during a walkthrough inspection of the building to detect further pollutant sources. 
   The building team will then prioritize identified problems in terms of short and long term action steps as well as high and low cost solutions.  A timeline for an action plan will be developed and the teams will communicate their findings to staff and parents.
   “In addition to creating a safer and healthier environment for our staff, students and PTOs, we add the additional benefit of saving school dollars,” said Mr. McLiverty.  The cost and effort expended to prevent most indoor air quality problems through the use of TfS is a fraction of the cost required to solve problems once they have developed,” he said.
   To learn more about the EPA’s TfS program and how it can benefit your school, home or office building, please visit www.epa.gov/iaq/schools.