Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/569858
Linda Chan $4 million, but that doing so would "increase atten- dance-linked funding to schools by $33 million annually." The good news is that educators can find a free tool- kit assembled by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with classroom checklists, vid- eos and other tools online (see sidebar). The EPA Tools for Schools Action Kit intrigues educator Linda Chan, who chairs t h e C TA S t a t e C o u n c i l S c h o o l S a f e t y / S c h o o l M a n a g e m e n t C o m m i t t e e . S h e wants the kit shared with California teach- ers statewide. Clean air is vital to student learning, says Chan, Mt. San Antonio Col- lege Faculty Association. "I want to get this out to all of our teachers — I believe in empowering our instructors," Chan says. "If you're not getting oxygen to the brain, the brain is not functioning properly and proper learning cannot take place." The EPA agrees, and says all school employees need to work together on air quality. "Everyone has a role to play in assuring good indoor air quality," says Shelly Rosen- blum, on the radiation and indoor environments team at the federal EPA offices in San Francisco. "Maintenance staff need to make sure that building structures remain dry and that all mechanical ventilation systems are in good working order, bring- ing in outside air and exhausting classroom air," Rosenblum says. "Teachers need to understand their contribution as well, learning about indoor sources of air pollution like deodorizers, air fresheners, and old couches and pillows." He says custodial services need to purchase the least toxic cleaning supplies and use them in accordance with manufactur- ers' directions. Students should be considerate of their fellow students and use unscented personal care products, Rosenblum recommends. Providing the least toxic approach to pest control is also key. School districts looking for examples of proactive districts might visit the 4,500-student Oak Park Unified School District in Ven- tura County. It won the California Department of Public Health's 2012 Achievements in Respiratory Health Award and other rec- ognition, including the Green Ribbon Schools District Sustainability Award from the U.S. Department of Education in 2013. Among many remedies, the Oak Park district uses quality carpets that reduce allergens, sustainable furniture with less glue, and tinted classroom windows instead of dust-gathering blinds, and installed new air conditioning units, says Julie Suarez, director of business operations. "We also get the ventilation ducting cleaned regularly," she says. "We get them all clean to keep the air nice and clean." 19 V O LU M E 2 0 I S S U E 2 Know & Tell *National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Digest of Education Statistics, 2011. We want you to make an informed decision about the university that's right for you. For more about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed each program, and other important information, visit www.apus.edu/disclosure. 2015 ONLINE PROGRAMS BE ST BACHELOR'S A Graduate Degree in Education For Those Who Expect More American Public University can help you elevate student success in your classroom setting. Our programs offer dynamic, collaborative approaches for educators that are affordable and 100% online. Learn from a nationally recognized leader in online education. APU offers 190+ career-relevant online degree and certificate programs including: • Online Learning • Special Education Get started today at StudyatAPU.com/cal-ed