Ensuring the Future

It is hard to be a school professional these days. There seems to be an increasing number of demands, but the time, money and public support needed to bring about school improvements seem to be declining. This is especially true when considering buildings and grounds, which often get a seat at the back of the class. A number of new, affordable tools are available to help build and maintain schools that improve the health of the indoor environment without harming the environment. Schools are the daily workplaces of more than 55 million Americans, the vast majority of them children. Because of deferred or inadequate maintenance, more than half of these densely occupied and heavily used community facilities pose significant health risks. Poor ventilation, mold, peeling lead paint, asbestos, pesticides, chemicals, and other indoor and outdoor contaminants put students and staff at risk. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has estimated that more than 15 million children are in schools that threaten their health. The GAO and National Center for Education Statistics have estimated that 30 to 40 percent of schools have poor indoor air. The GAO also has reported that one-third of public schools need new or upgraded roofs, walls and plumbing, as well as new or updated heating, electrical and lighting systems. The problems facing America's schools are significant, but there is reason for optimism. Many tools and resources are available or under development to assist schools, and they fall into three general areas: (1) audit tools; (2) operations of existing buildings; and (3) guidelines for construction of new buildings. (Contains 9 online resources.)