Clean, Green, and Healthy Schools: Region 6 Highlights

Clean, Green and Healthy Schools Regional Highlights showcases exceptional school environmental health projects within each of EPA’s ten regions.

EPA Region 6 includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas; and tribes.

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2014 Highlights

Helping Texas Schools Learn about Green and Healthy Environments

ISD staff holding up their awardArnold Anderson, Isura Gil, and Peggy Caruso of Katy ISD, who presented on their award-winning indoor air quality management program.On April 2, 2014, more than 160 people, representing more than 20 school districts, gathered at the 2014 Texas Healthy School Environments Symposium to learn more about the role healthy school environments play in the health and achievement of children, and how they can apply what they learn to their own schools. The event took place in Houston, Texas, at the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) and was planned primarily through the joint efforts of Greg Lookabaugh, senior manager of facilities planning with HCDE Choice Partners; Peggy Caruso, Katy Independent School District (ISD) assistant director of environment and safety; and Stacy Murphy, EPA Region 6 schools coordinator. In attendance were school staff and facility managers from across the state, as well as vendors that provide green and healthy products designed for schools, such as cleaning supplies, energy efficient lighting, and security features.

Subject experts covered traditional topics related to school environmental health, including proper heating, ventilation, pest control, and cleaning procedures. In addition, speakers addressed the threat of school violence, a troubling issue for the nation in recent years. From this added element, schools learned how to incorporate practices promoting sound and secure building structures into their routine maintenance and evaluation programs.

During the symposium, participants chose different breakout sessions to attend, covering specific topics like proper design and maintenance of Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems and selecting the best flooring materials based on evidence-based design. Sessions also included best practices created by local school districts. For example, members of the Katy ISD, which received the EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Model of Sustained Excellence Award for its indoor air quality inspection and management program, presented the "Creating a Team and Performing Walkthrough Inspections" session.

As an additional resource to help school officials and facility managers implement what they learned, Region 6 provided EPA Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Action Kits, which include management checklists, industry guidelines, and sample policies. The entire symposium was well received by attendees, possibly paving the way for similar events to take place in the future on a larger stage.

Watch a video about the 2014 Texas Healthy School Environments Symposium Exit for a further look at the day’s events.

2013 Highlights

Working with Community Partners to Improve Solid Waste Management

When the Zuni Environmental Protection Program (ZEPP) in New Mexico received external funding to address their community’s most challenging environmental problems, they recognized that they must partner with the local school district to have the greatest benefit. The Zuni Public School District (ZPSD), a small rural district of five schools and 1,300 students, found that their indoor air quality issues could be attributed to poor solid waste and pest management. With this in mind, EPA Region 6 partnered with ZEPP leaders and ZPSD to design a training that would address these issues.

On July 24, 2013, EPA Region 6 delivered the Zuni Healthy Schools Training in partnership with Zuni Pueblo, Zuni Public School District, Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Indian Health Service and New Mexico State University. The thirty attendees were first introduced to the coordinated school health approach and the key elements of a successful school environmental health program, before hearing from technical presenters who offered guidance on solid waste management, recycling, controlling mold and moisture, student nutrition and wellness and integrated pest management. In the future, ZPSD would like to provide targeted training to over 100 teachers and administrators to address clutter, a major contributor to the district’s solid waste and pest management issues.

The Zuni Environmental Protection Program has affected positive change in ZPSD as a result of continued efforts to help the district better manage their solid waste. Instead of stockpiling waste outside of schools, ZPSD began a recycling program that has helped to increase the town’s total tonnage of recycling by 40% over the last year. The schools were able to recycle between 15-20 tons of cardboard, tin cans, paper, aluminum cans and plastics 1 and 2. The Zuni Environmental Protection Program has also begun a joint outreach effort with a local youth group to involve students in the recycling efforts within their schools.

Although it is too soon to measure the long term benefits for ZPSD students, compelling scientific evidence suggests that improved indoor air quality increases productivity and improves the performance of mental tasks, increasing concentration and recall in both adults and children. Other benefits include fewer trips to the nurse and improved school attendance. The success of the project is attributed to the Zuni Pueblo’s engagement in environmental issues and the dedication of community partners. Sustained communication will be instrumental in planning and executing future environmental health initiatives with Zuni Pueblo.