1. Connecticut School Indoor Environment Resource Team
Implementing EPA’s
Tools
for
Schools
Philip Apruzzese, V. Pres.
Connecticut Education Assoc.
Resource Team Member
In 1999, representatives of the CT Dept. of Public Health, EPA New England and the CT Council for Occupational Safety and Health began meeting to develop a comprehensive and coordinated state-wide strategy to promote Tools for Schools as a pro-active intervention to address indoor air quality problems in CT schools. Among the first meetings, were discussions with the CT Education Association leadership to see how teachers may become involved and if CEA would commit to the resource team.

2. Resource Team / Background and History
2 ½ years ago – DPH – CTCOSH – CEA meeting
CEA commits to Resource Team
CEA encourages state departments of DPH and Education to commit to the Resource Team
November, 1999 Commissioners of Education and
Public Health send letter to town superintendents
CT Resource Team begins infancy
Consortium of State agencies and organizations develops throughout school year
Training of school committees at minimal
Brochure describing resource team and goals
School year brings credibility and momentum to the Resource Team and Tfs
1. Commissioners of DPH and Education compose and sign letter encouraging TFS usage with all superintendents receiving the TFS Kit.
During the school year, only six school teams were trained. However, Kenny Foscue, epidemiologist, DPH, the Resource team leader, continually successful with adding agencies and organizations throughout CT to participate in the State Team meetings.
With the help of EPA – New England the Resource Team goes to marketing the TFS program by developing a brochure.
In school year, resource team had trained school committees in 18 districts and 43 schools,with scheduled trainings in the first part of the school year at 27 additional school team trainings.

3. Agencies and Organizations of the Team:
CT Department of Public Health (CT DPH)
CT Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP)
CT Department of Labor, Occupational Health Program
CT Department of Occupational Safety-Health (CTCOSH)
CT Education Association (CEA) (NEA-affiliate)
CT Department of Education
CT Federation of Educational, Professional Employees (AFT-affiliate)
UCONN Health Center – Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine Program
U.S. Depart of Education, Office of Civil Rights (Boston)
Yale Occupational & Environmental Medicine Program
American Lung Association of CT
CT Association of Boards of Education (CABE)
CT Association of Local Health Directors
CT PTA
After an extensive effort by the Resource team – these agencies continue to participate in monthly planning meetings.

4. Members of the Team IAQ Specialists Industrial Hygienists
Epidemiologists
Educators
Health care professionals

5. Team Provided Services:
Outreach and Education through meetings and presentations promoting Tools for Schools
A two session training program for TFS committees
On going consultation with Tools for Schools committees
Outreach is with school officials and other stakeholders – PTA/PTO groups, teachers promoting TFS in school systems.
First training session for school committees is for three hours concerning IAQ issues, how TFS works and the importance of good communications with the whole school community. The second training is conducted utilizing an industrial hygienist to instruct the school team in a site walkthrough, prioritizing IAQ problems. This training is for two hours.
Although the team has limited resources – we are committed to consultations, setting priorities and addressing specific school committee needs.

6. Outreach and Education:
Typical preliminary meeting with school districts:
All stakeholders invited
Teachers / Union representation
Administrators / Members of the Board
Custodians
School nurse
Local Health Official(s)
Facilities management director
Presentation is informal and approximately 15 – 20 min. with Q&A to follow
Two pronged proactive approach:
Legislation / Communication
Mailings, Newsletters, Networking with Team member orgs.
The preliminary meeting or “summit meeting” as we like to call it – becomes the informal fact finding meeting from the school district’s perspective. The meeting itself lasts from 30 minutes to an hour with Q&A.
Undecided districts will use this meeting as their threshold meeting prior to making a decision – usually if the team gets to this stage – we are considered objectively and a decision is favorable to get training.
Heightened awareness in CT due to a few districts with major IAQ issues has made the Resource Team training an easier sell.
CEA has supported the team with legislative action:
a. CASE report – Two years ago the CT General Assembly committed to a study of Environmental concerns in CT schools – called the CASE Report. (CT Assoc. of Science/ Engineers)
b. The report proved to be revealing and was presented to the Environmental Committee last session
c. Using the report as a basis – CEA worked with Medical Experts from the University of Connecticut to craft legislation. That legislation passed the Senate on the last day of the session and seemed to have the
votes in the House – but because of budget issues which permeated this session the bill was filibustered by republicans and died as the session ended. This bill with some modifications will again
be brought before the 2002 Legislative session
5. The team will continue to encourage schools to form committees but also will work to improve communications at all levels by conducting a Statewide IAQ Conference on October 16, 2001.
6. Other communications: regular monthly meetings – list of over 40 contacts with regular updates- core group of Resource Team trainers maintain regular phone contact.

7. “Opening Pandora’s Box”
Reluctance of School districts to commit
We’ve heard that song before:
General fear of the unknown
Lack of expertise with IAQ
Time commitment
Unwilling to acknowledge problem “a few complainers”
What else is in the BOX – money issues – lack of maintenance funding –easily cut dollars from school system budget
Uncovering the BIG IAQ problem

8. CT Resource Team: Successes
Only 2 ½ years old but many achievements:
Trained Tfs committees in 43 schools and 18 Districts
Training workshops conducted – 29
Presentations to over 20 school systems
Presentations to the nine other state agencies and orgs.
Conducted workshops for Tfs at the following conferences:
Hartford School Nurses IAQ Conf.
CT Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA)- insures many public schools
CEA Summer Leadership Conf. – 3 day workshop
State-wide School Health Conf.
State-wide school environmental issues conf.
Resource Team member organizations promoted legislation