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It takes very hard work to find people who are willing to work
with you in trying to solve or prevent obvious concerns!
– Michael Medlock, Arizona
I have had to move very slowly and with a great degree of caution
to implement an IAQ plan in my school. It required a lot of discussions
with the principal and superintendent to help them realize the importance
of good air quality in a school setting.
– Janet Anderson, Idaho
Be patient! It has taken us 3 years to get to the point that we
believe effective legislation will be passed to deal with radon
and other IAQ issues.
– Randy Boyd, West Virginia
Make sure it’s a team approach-that all the work doesn’t fall
on one person. Be realistic in your timetable. Try to anticipate
management opposition (time, money, etc.)
– Wayne Barnes, North Carolina
Develop contract language as soon as possible; include district
safety language and District and Building Safety Teams.
– Larry A. Wolf, Oregon
Attend the NEA HIN IAQ in Schools Training first. Ask the local
association to help recruit committee members, then recruit managers
and directors who are directly involved with air quality in the
schools.
– Michele Milden, Virginia
Be patient. It takes a lot longer than you think to get buy in
from key persons.
– Anne Marie Duquette, California
Get parents involved. Our students were actually getting physically
ill due to a sick building. Our teachers complained for years to
deaf ears of the school board. Parents and the news media really
put the pressure on! Document everything!!!
– Deborah H. Petrun, Pennsylvania
Borrow ideas from other districts that have an IAQ plan in place.
Encourage the district health and safety director to be open to
ideas. Be prepared to have resistance, e.g., to circulating an air
quality survey to staff. Ask for participation by local IAQ specialists.
Plan meetings at a time convenient for participants. Inform teachers
that an IAQ committee is available for input.
– Sue Stavenau, Minnesota
There are ways to combat IAQ problems but you must have a plan
of action and know how to implement it. It all begins when the schools
are being built. In one elementary school the return air system
was left out completely and the entire ceiling space was supposed
to be the return air system for the whole school. The halls are
not wide enough and there are few windows. The school may have saved
money on energy costs, but now needs about $4 million for repairs
to eliminate serious IAQ problems. There are many other precautions
that must be taken and a lot of training for the maintenance force
who cares for the schools.
– Harmon Merritt, South Carolina
There are still many skeptics on the issue of IAQ. Some employees
are made to feel like whiners or complainers when they report a
symptom that may be associated with IAQ. I think some building custodians
felt “targeted” when asked about building problems. I feel timing
of a discussion in a building should be considered (not at the beginning
of the school year, not at the end of the year, etc.)
– Vicki Dwight, Washington
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