| As a life-long educator and future superintendent, | | | | the needs of all children and with the fact that this |
| I have witnessed a multitude of physical buildings | | | | is becoming so common, we need to do what is |
| that house the American school child. Some of | | | | in the best interest for all children and provide the |
| them are new buildings with beautiful architecture, | | | | proper type of lighting that does not cause |
| while others have been 100-year old small rural | | | | adverse reactions. |
| schools. Public schools are a source of allergens, | | | | I don't know about you, but when I walk into a |
| germs and environmental nuances that affect the | | | | room, I notice how clean it is. When I look at the |
| quality of the child's daily life. This year, the main | | | | walls and see stains and marks and then look at |
| threat to many schools was the MRSA virus. With | | | | the floor and a layer of dirt on the baseboard, I |
| some schools closing down and others | | | | think dirt, plain and simple. You have no idea how |
| experiencing declining attendance due to this | | | | many substitute teaching jobs I walked into and |
| particular disease alone, valuable attendance dollars | | | | observed filth on a regular basis. Children breathe |
| were dwindled down. With the school budget being | | | | the dust and overall, it sets a very bad example. |
| one of the main concerns of many | | | | So what are public schools suppose to do to deal |
| superintendents, when the attendance is down, so | | | | with this health threat? With No Child Left Behind |
| is the budget. | | | | and the English Language Learner demands, school |
| I worked in one 100-year old school house. What | | | | districts are at a premium to make their own |
| a charming place that was! I thought it was "Little | | | | budgets without the additional expenses of dealing |
| House on the Prairie" as I romanticized the entire | | | | with many of these issues. Obvious dirty |
| experience. But...what was lurking in the walls | | | | classrooms or facilities are the responsibility of the |
| besides all the dust??? Mold...yes…you don't | | | | building administrator. The child has a right to be |
| make it to 100 without getting a little water | | | | educated in a safe environment, so yes, we must |
| damage here and there. Part of the school was | | | | focus on the health of the school building to |
| condemned, yet, one would have to walk through | | | | ensure the health of our children. There are air |
| the condemned area on a daily basis to retrieve | | | | purifiers that would possibly be the answer to |
| daily mailbox messages and also, the teacher's | | | | some of the problems. Buying the right air purifier |
| workroom was there. Fortunately, they did get a | | | | for the school could be explored. Some air |
| new school; so that was taken care of....or was it? | | | | purifiers are built to kill germs, mold, viruses and |
| New schools and the building supplies that are | | | | bacteria, besides filtering dust, and pollens. |
| used to build them emit mega doses of | | | | Purchasing several purification systems would only |
| contaminants. Now we have "Sick Building | | | | pay for themselves in the long run with the |
| Syndrome" which Wikipedia describes ...."as flaws in | | | | money a school or business (even hospitals) would |
| the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) | | | | save on illnesses or closures due to MRSA or |
| systems. Other causes have been attributed to | | | | other diseases. There are proven laboratory |
| contaminants produced by outgassing of some | | | | studies to back the germ killing claims with certain |
| types of building materials, volatile organic | | | | brands. |
| compounds, molds (molds again???) improper | | | | High stakes tests would likewise benefit from a |
| exhaust ventilation of light industrial chemicals used | | | | clean air test sitting. Who knows, test scores may |
| within, or fresh-air intake location / lack of | | | | rise because children are not sneezing from the |
| adequate air filtration (see Minimum Efficiency | | | | allergens of dust mites or pollen in the classroom |
| Reporting Value). " ( How are the children suppose | | | | and are able to concentrate fully on the exam. |
| to handle the contaminates at a new school? | | | | Finding money in the budget will be the most |
| Traditionally, the overhead lights are enough to | | | | difficult part of the equation. With that being said, |
| distract even normal school children with the | | | | I am realistic enough to know that this is not |
| ongoing flickering, buzzing and vibrations. Many | | | | going to be a major concern for the school |
| autistic children are not able to be in classrooms | | | | board's agenda. I think it may take parent groups |
| and moms may keep them home knowing that | | | | to get together and brainstorm what they can |
| the buzzing sets off their child. This lighting may | | | | best do to raise money to purchase the air |
| influence seizure and tic disorders. ADHD children | | | | purifiers. |
| are distracted by the frequencies, too. Our | | | | Good luck with your project of having a "SAFE |
| children, as a whole, are becoming highly sensitized | | | | AND HEALTHY SCHOOL". |
| to many conditions that perhaps fifty years ago | | | | Diane Siers |
| would not bother a child. Schools need to address | | | | School administrator and future superintendentd. |