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