School Environmental Health

Green & Healthy Schools

Recognizing Excellence

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster and Deputy Secretary Bill Smith, of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), officially launched the “Green and Healthy Schools” program on April 22nd at Meadowbrook Elementary School in Waukesha and Spring Harbor Middle School in Madison. The Green and Healthy Schools program is sponsored jointly by the Department of Public Instruction and the DNR to encourage schools to teach and follow healthy, safe, and environmentally sound practices.

What is the Green & Healthy School Program?
The Green & Healthy School program recognizes schools that become models in their communities for healthy, safe and environmentally sound practices. Schools will be able to "lead by example" as they strive to conserve our valuable natural resources and maintain healthy and safe school environments for successful learning and cleaner living.

Why is it needed?

Because school attendance is mandatory by law, federal and state governments and local districts have a responsibility to provide healthy school environments.
Twenty percent (20%) of the U.S. population, approximately 55 million people, spend their days inside elementary and secondary schools.
There are no standards for school indoor air (OSHA has exposure standards, only apply to employees). There are no federal laws governing the environmental health conditions in schools.
Irritants such as pesticides, molds, asbestos and cleaning products can have a negative impact on indoor air quality.
Indoor air quality was reported to be unsatisfactory in about 1 in 5 public schools according to the U.S. Department of Education, 1999.
Poor air quality contributes to diseases and increased school absenteeism.
Children metabolize poisons differently than adults due to their biology and behavior and are more susceptible to health hazards in our environment.
Asthma afflicts nearly 4.8 million U.S. children. Asthma rates among children under 5 years have increased by 160% between 1980 and 1994. Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism, accounting for 10 million missed school days per year
A national survey of school districts with mold problems spent between $200,000 and $13.1 million to remediate schools.
A report in 2000 showed there was a significant relationship between facility condition and student achievement based on test scores in 139 public schools in Milwaukee, WI
Janitorial workers experience relatively high injury rates (headaches, asthma, burns, rashes, eye damage, organ damage) particularly from floor and carpet products and disinfectants.

Benefits of a Green & Healthy School include:

Healthier, safer learning environment
Higher student performance
Increased attendance by reducing health risks and triggers for asthma
Increased sense of ownership by teachers, staff, student and parents
Use of the school building and grounds as teaching tools
Save money by reducing consumption and operating costs
Increased protection of natural resources
Avoidance of costly repairs & reduce operating costs
Increased teacher and support staff satisfaction and retention
Reduced liability, avoid negative publicity
Increased connections between the community and the school

How Does the Program Work?
Green and Healthy Schools is a web-based, voluntary program available to all elementary, middle and high schools across the Wisconsin. The program encourages teachers, staff, students and parents to work together to use the school, its grounds and the whole community as learning tools to teach, promote and apply healthy, safe and environmentally sound practices. The program helps schools integrate a range of issues like recycling, water quality, energy conservation and healthy cleaning into their curriculum.

How Do Schools Get Started?
All you need to do is review the program information on the Green & Healthy Schools website, form a Green & Healthy Team and sign the pledge. You’re now on your way!

The Green & Healthy Schools web address is:
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/greenschools/

What Do Schools Receive?
In addition to the Green & Healthy Schools webpage, we are a phone call away to assist you in getting started. We will send you 81/2 x 11” certificates upon completion of each STEP. At the end your school will receive a 3 x 5’ “Green & Healthy School” flag to fly over your school.

Questions?
At the Department of Public Instruction: Contact Linda Caldart-Olson at 608-266-8857 or linda.caldart-olson@dpi.wi.gov, Randy Thiel at 608-266-9677 or randall.thiel@dpi.wi.gov, or Elizabeth Kane at 608-266-2803 or elizabeth.kane@dpi.wi.gov.

At the Department of Natural Resources:
Joel Stone at 608-266-2711 or joel.stone@dnr.state.wi.us.

References:

The ABC's of Healthy Schools, Center for Health, Environment and Justice, 8/02.
U.S.E.P.A. "Indoor Air Quality and Student Performance, 8/03.
No Child Left Behind, enacted the "Healthy and High Performance Schools" program, authorizing U.S. D.O.E. to provide grants to states to help fund local districts with green design and engineering for facility renovations.
CA & VT. have passed Healthy Schools Acts, several others have introduced legislation.
U.S. E.P.A. has a "Tools for Schools" Action Kit, targeting improvement of indoor air quality. American Lung Association distributed this kit to all its affiliates nationally.
Model school programs developed (Chicago Public Schools, Washington State).
CEPPI Brief, December 2000, “Where Children Learn: Facilities Conditions and Student Test Performance in Milwaukee Public Schools.”

Questions about content on this page should be directed to
Linda Caldart-Olson or by calling Linda at 608-266-8857

For questions about this information, contact dpisspw@dpi.wi.gov (608) 267-9117

Last updated on 2/22/2008 8:00:27 AM