Keller is one of eight school districts across the nation featured by an educators’ group for best practices in indoor air quality.
The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) highlights districts in Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, Georgia, Florida and California as part of the group’s Indoor Air Quality in Practice website to suggest ways educators can improve environmental conditions in classrooms.Keller is recognized for the school board’s local environmental policy, as well as administrative and board support.Board President Kevin Stevenson said the policy was designed to impact the classroom. “The health of our students and faculty certainly contributes to better learning,” Stevenson said.Frank DiNella, director of operations, said that better air quality reduces incidents of allergies and asthma, improving both attendance and learning.If a campus has a high number of absences or faculty members detect an unusual odor, administrators will put in a request to have the air quality measured. Staff members in operations and maintenance work with campus nurses to identify any problems and address them quickly. The operations department also conducts regular checks at all district buildings. Practices for cleaning, changing air filters and eliminating potential allergens like class pets or deodorizers have become standard procedures, DiNella said.The AASA has been working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve the indoor air quality in schools, according to the group’s website: iaqinpractice.orgKeller has won several EPA awards in the last several years for its air quality management program, which likely earned the district a visit from an AASA committee last year, DiNella said. A team came to see how the district implements its program and talk with officials.What sets Keller apart is the emphasis on policy and procedures. A change in personnel would not have a negative impact on the indoor air quality standards, DiNella said.“Environmental management is embedded as part of our way of life, and I think that’s why they wanted to come here and see that,” he said.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
