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What were the accomplishments of Joellen Lawson and CT Parents? We hope other states will follow, with parent and teacher insistence.
Moms and Dads in the Trenches
From the CHEC site
http://www.checnet.org/smission_trenches_learn_lawson.asp
"My appreciation of the critical importance of indoor air quality evolved from my experiences as a special education teacher at McKinley Elementary School in affluent Fairfield, CT. In 1991, shortly after joining the staff, I developed a chronic cough, migraine headaches and a burning sensation in my eyes. As time went on I began to experience muscle spasms, tremors and visible hair loss. The doctors I consulted with were unable to pinpoint a cause despite numerous blood tests and X rays. None of us even considered the possibility that my work environment might be involved....Finally, our efforts were rewarded when An Act Concerning the Indoor Air Quality in Schools was passed overwhelmingly in the House (147 to 1) and Senate (35 to 1). "
CT PTA Describes AN ACT CONCERNING INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS
http://www.ctpta.org/legislative/air_quality.htm
reproduced, in part, below
"The New Law (as written in CT PTA online newsletter, see full text at link above)
Poor indoor air quality has very serious consequences for the health of our children. In the upcoming legislative session we will most likely see additional bills on this issue. The new law, Public Act No. 03-220 "AN ACT CONCERNING INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS", was signed by Governor Rowland this past July.
This bill takes several important steps to improve air quality in schools including the following:
Requires boards of education (BOE) to properly maintain their facilities,
Requires BOE to adopt and implement an indoor air quality program that provides for ongoing maintenance and facility reviews necessary for the maintenance and improvement of the indoor air quality of its facilities,
Requires BOE to report annually to the Commissioner of Education on the condition of its facilities and the action taken to implement its long-term school building program and indoor air quality program,
Requires that prior to January 1, 2008, and every five years BOE to conduct education a uniform inspection and evaluation program of the indoor air quality within their schools,
Establishes a new definition for addressing building emergencies that can receive state construction bonding money. "Certified school indoor air quality emergency" means the existence of a building condition determined by the Department of Public Health to present a substantial and imminent adverse health risk that requires remediation in an amount greater than one hundred thousand dollars.
Allows a BOE to establish an indoor air quality committee for each school district or facility to increase staff and student awareness of facets of the environment that affect the health of the occupants of school facilities."
Link to the State of CT Legislation:
Substitute House Bill No. 6426
Public Act No. 03-220
AN ACT CONCERNING INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS
http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2003/act/Pa/2003PA-00220-R00HB-06426-PA.htm
This act was subsequently funded in Oct. 2003 and amended, as below. AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY PROJECTS
http://www.newtownbee.com/Features.asp?s=Features-2004-11-04-12-21-24p1.htm
Newtown Bee, Nov. 4, 2004
Newtown Resident Among IAQ Heroes Honored For Promoting Environmentally Safe Schools
"State Sen John McKinney of Fairfield was presented with a special award by ConFESS President Joellen Lawson of Newtown for his work on behalf of environmentally safe schools.
The Connecticut Foundation for Environmentally Safe Schools (ConnFESS) in partnership with the Connecticut Parent Teacher Association (CTPTA) presented a press conference on October 20 (2004) in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford."
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