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2000 Excellence Award Winners

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IAQ TfS Award Winners

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You can find local award winners.  Use the national map, just click on your state.

Envisioning Excellence presents the Framework for Effective School IAQ Programs: Six Key Drivers -- guidelines that detail the organizational approaches and practices that are fundamental to school IAQ program success -- and presents five profiles to demonstrate how different school districts applied the Framework to create enduring IAQ programs. Learn more about this exciting tool.

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National Leaders in Improving Indoor Air Quality in Schools

Baldwin Union Free School District, Baldwin, NY

Baldwin Union school officials were among the first to implement IAQ Tools for Schools. The school district used the IAQ TfS Kit to identify and aggressively employ a broad range of measures to stem sources of possible air quality problems — from adopting low-odor, low-VOC paints to making exclusive use of HEPA vacuums. According to the Baldwin Herald newspaper, "Baldwin children are breathing clean air in their classrooms ... giving the school district the state's green stamp of approval."

El Paso Independent School District, El Paso, TX

El Paso Independent School District responded to mounting indoor air quality concerns during the 1998/99 school year by implementing IAQ Tools for Schools. It used the Program to establish a district-wide (72 of 84 school campuses) air quality survey, response, and problem prevention program. The district reports that IAQ TfS enabled a highly organized, logical response to indoor air quality issues that fostered teamwork and a sense of mission district wide, resulting in a higher quality learning environment.

Indianola Community School District, Indianola, IA

Indianola Community School District became aware of IAQ Tools for Schools through an Iowa Department of Education IAQ TfS workshop. During walkthroughs, staff found numerous, significant air quality problems. IAQ TfS 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.

King-Murphy Elementary, Clear Creek School District, Evergreen, CO

District school administrators in 1998 learned of IAQ Tools for Schools through a teacher who was concerned about air quality problems at school. The IAQ TfS Kit enabled, with the assistance of EPA Region 8, a team-building, management, and implementation pilot program at King-Murphy that led to significant and rapid indoor air improvements. Plans are to expand the program to other schools in the district.

New Ulm Public Schools, New Ulm, MN

New Ulm Public Schools, a rural school district of modest means, embraced IAQ Tools for Schools after realizing in 1996 that carpeting upgrades adversely affected air quality and student health. The school system established a district-wide air quality program that involved staff, students, and unions. The program, which made good air quality in the learning and teaching environment a policy priority, is regarded as a national model for rural school districts with limited means.

Okaloosa County School District, Fort Walton Beach, FL

With 38,000 students in 38 schools, Okaloosa County used to receive hundreds of IAQ complaints each year. Led by Dr. William (Bill) Smith, district Director of Facilities, the school district aggressively implemented IAQ Tools for Schools and has seen a dramatic drop-off in IAQ problems. Its success led the school board to adopt IAQ TfS as policy, making it mandatory for all facilities.

Robert K. Shafer Middle School, Bensalem Township School District

Bensalem School District implemented IAQ Tools for Schools in response to citizen concern over poor IAQ in schools. Six schools were pilot IAQ TfS partners, and all have identified and mitigated a long list of IAQ problems -- ranging from bird nests in HVAC systems to chlorine infiltration in classroom air.

Saugus Union School District, Saugus, CA

IAQ Tools for Schools was the key to ending an air quality crisis at Saugus Union School District, where blood tests for one student revealed exposure to arsenic, formaldehyde, phenol, and mold toxins suspected of originating in a portable classroom. IAQ TfS enabled the school district to implement a comprehensive program that brought the public into the process, remediated air quality problems, and built public trust in the school system.

Sedro-Woolley School District, Sedro-Woolley, WA

High levels of CO2 became the focus of indoor air improvements after an IAQ Tools for Schools walkthrough revealed problems in an elementary school, particularly in the portable classrooms. The district approved special funds to address its IAQ issues. Upgrades and behavioral changes were implemented, and significant improvements in air quality have already been achieved. A close relationship with the Northwest Air Pollution Authority has helped the district continue to strive for good IAQ and healthy classrooms.

William Blackstone Elementary School, Boston, MA

Beset for years with numerous indoor air quality complaints, culturally diverse Blackstone was one of three Boston schools selected as pilot partners in EPA's IAQ TfS Program. Principal Mildred Ruiz-Allen led a team that seized upon IAQ TfS to make dramatic improvements in school facilities. The school is now assisting other Boston schools in implementing the IAQ program.

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