The Center for School Mold Help

Jeanne Black, parent activist from WI, is featured as a reporter for the State of WI, in this national report released by the Healthy Schools Coalition, Dec. 2009.

"The report, with contributions from policy advocates in 20 states and the District, offers peer-reviewed studies and compelling evidence of how polluted air inside and outside schools escalate health care costs, increase absenteeism, and reduce test scores." (Sick Schools, 2009)

Jeanne Black Healthy Schools Advocate from Wisconsin is representing Wisconsin in this national document presented to Washington, DC on December 3^rd, 2009

SICK SCHOOLS 2009 - National Report Released 

Senators Boxer, Lautenberg, Klobuchar thanked for EPA child health priority

Wisconsin Represented by Jeanne  Black

( Washington, DC, and Wisconsin December 3, 2009)              

Releasing “Sick Schools 2009 - America’s Continuing Environmental Health Crisis for Children” a national report with state by state assessments of the problems and opportunities, advocates for environment and children’s health thanked Senators Boxer, Lautenberg, and Klobuchar, and other members of the Environment Committee for advancing the EPA priorities on children and schools and urged more support for EPA. The report, with contributions from policy advocates in 20 states and the District, offers peer-reviewed studies and compelling evidence of how polluted air inside and outside schools escalate health care costs, increase absenteeism, and reduce test scores.          

Jeanne Black from Wisconsin, a Healthy Schools Parent Advocate contributed information about Wisconsin in this national report concerning Coalition work for WI legislation to form new indoor air quality laws in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin has currently passed legislation by both houses for a new Indoor Air Quality Act and is currently in the office of Governor Doyle for consideration [SMH note: this legislation has now been signed by Gov. Doyle].  Jeanne & Jade Black participate in Wisconsin legislation concerning indoor air quality in our schools and the national Coalition for Healthier Schools in our nation.

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Policy advocates from 20 states and District of Columbia contributed to the new report, as well as national organizations. States include Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, DC, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and

Wisconsin where the bill is in the Governor’s office for consideration. The national Coalition for Healthier Schools Policy Position Statement is found at www.healthyschools.org/coalition.  

First convened in 2001, the Coalition has shaped and won two federal laws to address children’s environmental health in schools, and through regular conference calls and annual meetings, has provided information and technical assistance to foster the and share the work of scores of state and local policy groups seeking root reforms. For annual meeting agenda and speakers, as well as pictures, see

http://www.healthyschools.org/coalition.html

Boxer Chairs the US Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. Senator Lautenberg sponsored the High Performance Green Buildings Act of 2007, and Senator Klobuchar Chairs the EPW Subcommittee on Children.

The full SICK SCHOOLS 2009 report can be read at www.healthyschools.org .  Selected highlights of the national report are attached.

HIGHLIGHTS:                                 

·         EPA needs resources to meet congressional mandated deadlines for federal guidelines on school siting (June 2009), other environmental issues (December 2009), and to provide grants to states.

·         There is a robust scientific literature in children and healthy school environments; benefits and savings from healthier occupants far outweigh savings from energy efficiencies.  

·         EPA has long-standing voluntary programs on school environments.

·         States have little capacity to address children’s environmental health at school.

·         Despite published, accepted science, there is no systematic national state by state survey of the conditions of schools, taking into account environmental factors that impact children.   

Summary of Data for Public School Buildings. For data table footnotes, see Appendix of full report