Wichita Public Schools Win Indoor Air Award

Wichita Public Schools received the prestigious “Model of Sustained Excellence” Award yesterday at EPA’s eighth annual Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Symposium in Washington, D.C.

The Model of Sustained Excellence award winners are selected from school districts nationwide that have previously won EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Excellence Award. The Wichita Public School District received that award in 2005. The key to winning a Sustained Excellence award is to demonstrate ongoing exceptional commitment and achievement in maintaining healthy educational facilities.

“We want to make sure our schools are taking care of indoor environmental pollutants and irritants that might affect the health and productivity of students and staff. We’re pleased to honor Wichita’s dedication to healthy indoor air,” said Region 7 Administrator John Askew.

Wichita Public Schools have certified indoor environmentalists on staff who are trained to identify potential sources of problems. Each building has a school nurse trained in indoor air quality issues. Trained staff can identify potential problems quickly and alert the district’s Environmental Services Department, which can implement solutions. The district has upgraded heating and cooling systems and improved fresh air ventilation in all its buildings.

The Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program is a comprehensive resource to help schools maintain a healthy environment in school buildings by identifying, correcting, and preventing problems. One aspect of the program is a kit that shows schools how to carry out a practical plan to improve indoor air problems at little or no cost, using straightforward activities and in-house staff. The kit provides best practices, industry guidelines, sample policies, and a sample indoor air quality management plan.