Policy 3514 - Environmental Safety

Environmental Safety

The Board of Education recognizes its obligation to provide a safe and healthy environment at school facilities for students, staff, and community members. The Superintendent or designee shall regularly assess school facilities to identify environmental health risks. He/she shall establish a comprehensive plan to prevent and/or mitigate environmental hazards based on a consideration of the proven effectiveness of various options, anticipated short-term and long-term costs and/or savings to the district, and the potential impact on staff attendance, student attendance, and student achievement.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish regulations to prevent and/or reduce environmental hazards in accordance with law and state guidelines. Strategies shall include but not necessarily be limited to:

1. Ensuring good indoor air quality by maintaining adequate ventilation; using effective maintenance operations to reduce dust, mold, mildew, and other indoor air contaminants; and considering air quality in the site selection, design, and furnishing of new or remodeled facilities
2. Limiting outdoor activities when necessary due to poor outdoor air quality, including excessive smog, smoke, or ozone, or when ultraviolet radiation levels indicate a high risk of harm
3. Reducing exposure to diesel exhaust and other air contaminants by limiting unnecessary idling of school buses and other commercial motor vehicles
4. Minimizing exposure to lead in paint, soil, and drinking water
5. Inspecting facilities for naturally occurring asbestos and asbestos-containing building materials that pose a health hazard due to damage or deterioration and safely removing, encapsulating, enclosing, or repairing such materials
6. Ensuring the proper storage, use, and disposal of potentially hazardous substances
7. Ensuring the use of effective least toxic pest management practices
8. Instituting a food safety program for the storage, preparation, delivery, and service of school meals in order to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses

In developing strategies to promote healthy school environments, the Superintendent or designee may consult and collaborate with local environmental protection agencies, health agencies, and other community organizations.

The Superintendent or designee shall provide the district's maintenance and facilities staff, bus drivers, food services staff, teachers, and other staff as appropriate with professional development regarding their responsibilities in implementing strategies to improve and maintain environmental safety at the schools.

The Superintendent or designee shall notify the Board, staff, parents/guardians, students, and/or governmental agencies, as appropriate, if an environmental hazard is discovered at a school site. The notification shall provide information about the district's actions to remedy the hazard and may recommend health screening of staff and students.

Rule 3514

The Superintendent may designate and train one or more employees to oversee and coordinate the district's environmental safety program(s). The responsibilities of the coordinator(s) shall include, but are not limited to, overseeing assessments of district facilities, recommending strategies for the prevention and mitigation of environmental health risks, ensuring effective implementation of environmental safety strategies, and reporting to the Superintendent regarding the district's progress in addressing environmental safety concerns.

Indoor Air Quality

In order to provide proper ventilation, humidity, and temperature in school facilities and to reduce indoor air contaminants, the Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the following strategies are implemented:

1. Mechanically driven heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems shall be operated continuously during working hours. The systems shall be inspected at least annually and problems corrected within a reasonable time. Where the air supply is filtered, the filters shall be replaced or cleaned regularly to prevent significant reductions in airflow. Documentation of inspections, tests of ventilation rates, and maintenance shall be retained for at least five years. Staff shall ensure that airflow is not obstructed by the blocking of ventilators with posters, furniture, books, or other obstacles.
2. School facilities shall be regularly inspected for water damage, spills, leaks in plumbing and roofs, poor drainage, and improper ventilation so as to preclude the buildup of mold and mildew. Wet building materials and furnishings shall be dried within 48 hours if possible to prevent mold growth. When evidence of mold or mildew is found, maintenance staff shall locate and repair the source of water intrusion and remove or clean moldy materials.
3. Exterior wall and foundation cracks and openings shall be sealed as soon as possible to minimize seepage of radon into buildings from surrounding soils.
4. Least toxic pest management practices shall be used to control and manage pests at school sites.
5. In any new school construction and in all existing schools when feasible, the Superintendent or designee shall install a carbon monoxide detector in each school building that contains a fossil fuel burning furnace. The device shall be placed in close proximity to the furnace in order to accurately detect any leakage of carbon monoxide.
6. Schedules and practices for routine housekeeping and maintenance shall be designed to effectively reduce levels of dust, dirt, and debris. Plain water, soap and water, or low-emission cleaning products shall be used whenever possible. Aerosols, including air fresheners and other products containing ozone, shall be avoided to the extent possible.
7. Painting of school facilities and maintenance or repair duties that require the use of potentially harmful substances shall be limited to those times when school is not in session. Following any such activity, the facility shall be properly ventilated with adequate time allowed prior to reopening for use by any person.
8. Paints, adhesives, and solvents shall be used and stored in well-ventilated areas. These items shall be purchased in small quantities to avoid storage exposure.
9. To the extent possible, printing and duplicating equipment that may generate indoor air pollutants, such as methyl alcohol or ammonia, shall be placed in locations that are well ventilated and not frequented by students and staff.
10. The district's tobacco-free schools policy shall be consistently enforced in order to reduce the health risks caused by second-hand smoke.
11. Staff and students shall be asked to refrain from bringing common irritants such as furred or feathered animals, stuffed toys that may collect dust mites, scented candles, incense, or air fresheners and from using perfume or cologne, scented lotion or hair spray, nail polish or nail polish remover, or other personal care products that are not fragrance-free in classrooms or other enclosed areas or buildings.

Outdoor Air Quality

The Superintendent or designee may monitor local health advisories and outdoor air quality alerts, including forecasts of ozone levels, particle pollution, and/or ultraviolet radiation levels.

Whenever these measures indicate a significant health risk, the Superintendent or designee shall communicate with each principal so that outdoor activities, especially those requiring prolonged or heavy exertion, may be avoided, limited in duration, or modified as necessary for all persons or for persons who may be particularly susceptible to the health risk involved.

Vehicle Emissions

In order to reduce public exposure to toxic air contaminants, school bus drivers and other drivers of commercial motor vehicles shall limit unnecessary idling of vehicles at or near schools.

Drinking Water

The quality and safety of the district's drinking water sources shall be regularly assessed.

Whenever testing of drinking water finds concentrations of lead that exceed federal and state standards, water outlets shall be flushed thoroughly each day before use or made inoperable until a plan for remediation can be implemented.

Whenever levels of arsenic, bacteria, or other contaminants in the drinking water are determined to be a concern, the Superintendent or designee may recommend basic filtration or pipe flushing when feasible.

Until drinking water is assured to be safe, the Superintendent or designee may explore alternatives, such as bottled water, to ensure that students have access to fresh drinking water at mealtimes and at other times throughout the day. As needed, he/she also may encourage appropriate governmental agencies to conduct regular testing of the water quality in district schools and to implement strategies to improve water quality in the community.

Drinking fountains in district schools shall be regularly cleaned and maintained to avoid the presence of dirt, mold, or other impurities or health concerns.

Lead Exposure

In addition to keeping school facilities as dust-free and clean as possible, the following steps shall be taken to minimize potential exposure to lead in school facilities:

1. Lead-based paint, lead plumbing and solders, or other potential sources of lead contamination shall not be used in the construction of any new school facility or the modernization or renovation of any existing school facility.

2. Lead exposure hazards shall be evaluated before any renovation or remodeling is begun, and children shall not be allowed in or near buildings in which these activities may create lead dust. Contractors and workers shall comply with state and federal standards related to the handling and disposal of lead debris and the clean-up and containment of dust within the construction area.

3. Lead-based painted surfaces that are in good condition shall be kept intact. If lead-based paint is peeling, flaking, or chalking, contractors or workers shall follow state and federal standards for safe work practices to minimize contamination when removing the paint.

4. Soil with high lead content may be covered with grass, other plantings, concrete, or asphalt.

5. Drinking water shall be regularly tested for lead and remediated as provided in the section "Drinking Water" above.

Any action to abate existing lead hazards, excluding containment or cleaning, shall be taken only by contractors, inspectors, and workers certified by the California Department of Public Health.

Mercury Exposure

The Superintendent or designee shall identify any products containing mercury that are present in district facilities and, to the extent possible, shall replace them with mercury-free alternatives.

Staff shall receive information about proper procedures to follow in the event of a mercury spill. Clean-up instructions, a clearly labeled kit with necessary clean-up supplies, and a list of local resources shall be readily accessible.

In the event of a spill, staff shall evacuate all students from the immediate area of the spill, ensure that any clothing or other items with mercury on them remain in the room, open windows to the outside, and close doors to other parts of the school. Staff, who are trained in proper clean-up procedures, may carefully clean a small spill. As needed for larger or difficult-to-clean spills, the Superintendent or designee shall use an experienced professional referred by the local health department or environmental agency.

Any products containing mercury shall be properly disposed at an appropriate hazardous waste collection facility.

Asbestos Management

The district will designate a person who will be responsible for ensuring that federal and state requirements are properly implemented. According to the EPA, this designated person is not required to be a licensed asbestos consultant, but the district must verify that he/she has received proper training.