EPA-TFS

[Guest guest]

Goodmorning Everyone,

Would like to share a bit w/you. As many of you know I have been working for

the past few years trying to get someone in our district to listen to me about

IAQ. Which has been the one of the biggest battles I have taken on. However,

this year we have a entire new staff of administration. One of them actually

listened. Now for the past 5 weeks every Monday @ 3:00 we have been meeting and

discussing IAQ issues. They ordered and gave me the Tools for Schools

packet/videos/cd. Which I will be using to help implement in our district.

This past week I designed a couple letters along w/EPA's check list that will

sent to the entire staff of our first school. Which will be implemented thru out

the district hopefully by the start of the next school year. This is all very

exciting for me.

This led me to calling EPA to speak w/2 of the coordinators of TFS, about some

of the items that we didn't quite understand. To my surprise they are on our

side. I didn't really realize all of the work they do to encourage school

districts to improve their IAQ. The huge support system they have in each

State. The funding that is available for some of these schools. The free

education that is available. Funding that pays for inspections w/in the schools

to evaluate the schools. Tons of organizations that support the schools also,

and are willing to work w/them free of charge. The efforts they have made to

get the districts to listen.

All of the effort is taking time but schools are starting to listen. This past

year more schools have joined on to utilize TFS than any other year. They have

been working on this since 2000. I mentioned that I couldn't get the attention

of anyone until I started targeting Asthma. Forget all the other conditions of

poor IAQ. That is how they finally got schools to start to listen. They left

behind all of the other stuff and started targeting Asthma and IAQ. As all of

us know, it is not just mold. But, it is the entire IAQ. Since then schools

are starting to take notice. They are saddened that schools are not more

educated and that many are resistant. But, hope in time all districts will be

listening.

So, even though I didn't think that any governmental agency cared there is one

that does care about our kids, and are working hard to help others understand

and change things.

Thought this might help families too that are facing IAQ problems w/in their

schools. Remember, you need to use something that is medically documented.

Something a doctor will stand behind, something that is a recognized medical

condition. Every school has children w/asthma. ALL asthma is triggered by poor

IAQ.