Urban and Rural Healthy Schools Coalitions Ne

IInncc

• Reca

Rural

Coali

• Resul

and R

Schoo

Meet

• Spotli

• Resou

URHS

• IAQ A

& Eve

Urba2010 Memphis, TN

URHSC Group Photo

MCS’s East High School Courtyard Drainage

URHSC “IAQ Headlines”

The meeting kicked off with a special greeting from Dr. Patricia Toarmina, Executive Director of Exceptional Children & Health Services in Memphis City Schools (MCS). Toarmina shared her experience working with MCS Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash and his commitment to healthy and high achieving students. Toarmina also noted that MCS opened four health clinics--one in each district for students. On behalf of Dr. Cash, Toarmina thanked AASA for coming to Memphis and continuing to support MCS through the Urban Healthy Schools Coalition. After the welcome, all 15 districts updated the group using an Indoor Air Quality Headlines presentation. Districts included: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Cocke County Public Schools, Detroit Public Schools, East Valley School District, Hastings Public Schools, Memphis City Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Milwaukee Public Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools, North East ISD, School District of Philadelphia, Richmond County Schools, Spokane Public Schools, Tahlequah Public Schools, and USD 270 Plainville. Day one also included a site visit to MCS’s East High School—the motivation behind MCS’s IAQ program. The school has a unique structure that influences IAQ, including recent renovations and underground tunnels. Therefore, the school’s IAQ plan is founded upon leadership, commitment, dedication, transparency, and collaboration. Asthma was a trending theme in this year’s meeting. NFL player Chris Draft founded the Chris Draft Family Foundation and sent a video message of his personal story of having asthma as a student. Representing the foundation in person was Lee Jackson, who shared the importance of community and school relations to sustain a healthy learning environment. AASA Asthma Project Manager Lorene Alba, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Coordinated School Health Specialist Nancy Langenfeld, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Asthma Program Manager Heidi LeSane, and Detroit Public Schools Program Supervisor Anntinette McCain participated in a discussion panel on the overlap between asthma management and IAQ management.

Page

1 Spring/Summer 2010 ● Urban and Rural Healthy Schools Coalitions Newsletter ● AASA ● (703) 875-0759

Dinner at Southern Folklore

lluuddeedd iinn tthhiiss

eeddiittiioonn::

p of Urban and

Healthy Schools

tion Meeting

ts from Urban

ural Healthy

ls Coalition

ing

ght on Asthma

rces from

C Meeting

nnouncements

nts

wsletter Spring/Summer 2010

n and Rural Healthy Schools Coalition Meeting, May 18-19,

201Con

Ed

RegNation

onCoDe

http://w

Asthma Panelists

EPA SC3 Presentation

Asthma Kit Trivia and Giveaway USD Plainville Presentation

EPA representatives Michele Curreri, LaShon Blakely and Heidi LeSane shared IAQ and asthma resources, which sparked the group to share IAQ knowledge—one of which was not to squash cock-roaches because if it’s pregnant its eggs will spread. This is especially important to communicate when addressing environmental asthma triggers and integrated pest management. After working hard and recapping the first day, dinner was hosted by the Center for Southern Folklore. Day two began with a presentation by Kristina Meson of the EPA School Chemical Cleanout Campaign. The audience was engaged in the significance of a chemical management plan and its role in the management of indoor air/environmental quality. The group participated in a “Descriptive Consultancy” exercise to help Cocke County Schools and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools address their IAQ concerns. Cocke County Schools was interested in finding creative funding sources, engaging its faculty, and reaching out to local nursing students to assist in asthma tracking. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools used the exercise to address a smelly music room caused by burnt acoustic ceiling tiles. Both approaches enabled the group to use different problem-solving techniques—holistic and detailed. The group shared their results of the exercise and used it to finish their action planning, and exchange resources. The meeting was innovative and productive. Thank you to Memphis City Schools for hosting the site visit, EPA officers, the Chris Draft Family Foundation, and the members of the Urban and Rural Healthy Schools Coalitions.

Page 2

URHSC Meeting Results and Feedback

The expectations of the URHSC meeting were high and ranged from networking, increasing IAQ knowledge, and exchanging best-management practices. Feedback from attendees highlighted networking opportunities, EPA IAQ resources, presentations from fellow members, the Descriptive Consultancy exercise, EPA SC3 presentation, and the fact that the meeting was intimate and personal. Members were asked to make an IAQ-related commitment to implement within the month, and results include: updating the IAQ plan to include nurses, completing a baseline IAQ walkthrough, contacting regional EPA SC3 representatives, and preparing to apply for an EPA IAQ Great Start Award. Fantastic!

Spring/Summer 2010 ● Urban and Rural Healthy Schools Coalitions Newsletter ● AASA ● (703) 875-0759

EPA IAQ and Asthma Resources

1 National ference on ucation

ister for the al Conference Education nference nver, CO ww.aasa.org/nce/

Page 3

sour

JOIN THE DISCUSSION The Schools IAQ Connector Listserv makes it easy to connect dand commthe listsermessage tsubscribe@inbox for y

The 2010is here! ASchools N

2010! Find

your state,

IAQ A

Healyou school buildings and students are in your districts, you have found unique ways to meet challeng

AMontgo “custoerge

ith theudentslebra

edicaendly slba@a

Spotlight: An Asthma Perspective of Indoor Air Quality By Lorene Alba

American Association of School Administrators 801 North Quincy St. Suite 700 Arlington, VA 22203 Phone: (703) 875-0759 Fax: (703) 841-1543 Web Sitewww.aas

rict Hepared

EPA IAQ and Asthma Presentation: Access a

ora of EPA resources, Click here

SC3: Learn more about the impact that icals have on IEQ, Click here

SC3 video page: //www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/ideo/SC3/index.htm

SC3 Regional Contacts: Click here

270 Plainville: Presentation on Plainville’s proactive IEQ involving teachers and students, Click here.

Share

resourc

events

about

ybow

to be inc

newsletter.

Sp litions Newsletter ● AASA ● (703) 875-0759

Learn how to implement

low and no-cost strategies to safeguard

the learning environment. Hear experts from the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program and your peers from Keller Independent School District discuss how improving the school environment can also enhance academic

performance.

REGISTER HERE

SAVAugu

1

WebcIndoo

AchieMai

C

pleth EPA chem EPA http:sc3/v EPA USD

E THE DATE! st 18, 2010 12-:30pm EST

ast – Improving r Air Quality and Academic vement: Facility

ntenance is the ornerstone

irectly with your peers to share information unicate over e-mail and on the Web. Join v today by sending a blank e-mail o schools_iaq_connector-

lists.epa.gov. Then, check your e-mail our confirmation and membership details.

IAQ Tools for Schools awards launch pply for one of EPA’s IAQ Tools for

ational Awards to claim your spotlight in

out which districts have been honored in

and reach out to them on their progress.

ring/Summer 2010 ● Urban and Rural Healthy Schools Coa

Nationthe Na

Award

wait! G

break.

Non-CStart aare acinitiateprogra

Spokane Public Schools: Presentation on Spokane’s technical approach to IEQ monitoring, Click here. Spokane’s IAQ Jeopardy, Click here. Video of Washington Redskin Linebacker Chris Draft addressing asthma School District of Philadelphia: Chemical Management Plan, Chemical Management Plan Training Presentation, and approved chemical list. The Healthy Learner Model for Student Chronic Condition Management Part I: Comprehensive approach to asthma and IEQ, Click here.

Re

aemwstce

mfrila

: a.org

Distpre

information,

es, stories, and

with the group

IAQ. Send an

email to

ers@aasa.org

luded in the next

It was such a pleasure to meet all of the attendees at the Urban and Rural thy Schools Coalition meeting. I am so impressed with all of the wonderful IAQ work are doing, while helping students with asthma in the process. Considering how many

ces: URHSC Meeting Presentations and Handouts

es and overcome obstacles.

ll of the presentations made an impact on me. Whether it was hearing mery County Public Schools say they treat every parent, teacher and student as mer”, or Detroit Public Schools reporting a 7% decrease in student visits to the ncy room for asthma, or how Spokane Public Schools is improving relationships teacher’s union, these steps will go a long way in improving the health of , teachers, and staff. These victories should not only be shared, they should be ted!

Should you have any questions regarding asthma (i.e. environmental triggers, tions, etc.) or how to create an asthma management plans for a more asthma-chool environment in your district, please feel free to contact me at asa.org, or 703-875-0732. Thank you for all you do!

adline Presentations: Each district slides on IEQ progress, Click here

Competitive Awards: The National Excellence, the

al Model of Sustained Excellence and tional IAQ Tools for Schools Connector

are due Friday, October 8, 2010, but don’t

et started on your application before summer

ompetitive Awards: The National Great nd National Leadership Awards applications cepted year-round for school districts that or take action to establish IAQ management ms in their districts.

nnouncements & Events