The Westport public school system was one of 10 districts and individuals honored today for leading the way to prevent and solve indoor air quality problems.
The Westport schools were cited at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 10th Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Symposium in Washington, D.C.
The EPA created the Tools for Schools program a decade ago to address a range of indoor air quality and related problems in school buildings.
These include respiratory problems, headaches and nausea, and what the EPA said was “an alarming rise” in asthma and allergies among schoolchildren.
“It is critical that our children have safe, healthy classrooms and an environment that helps them prepare for the future,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
“We’re proud to recognize the achievements of school districts working to protect our students from dangerous pollution in the places where they come to learn.”
In addition to Westport, this year’s award winners included: Keller Independent School District, Keller, Texas; Kenosha Unified School District #1, Kenosha, Wis.; North Penn School District, Lansdale, Pa.; and Wayzata Public Schools, Plymouth, Minn.;
Also: Ocean Township School District, Oakhurst, N.J.; Omaha Public Schools, Omaha, Neb.; Spokane Public Schools, Spokane, Wash.; Jack Levine, Director of Finance and Administration, Amity Regional School District No. 5 , Woodbridge, Conn.; and Michael Sheehan, Director of Facilities, Operations and Safety, Baldwin Union Free School District, Baldwin, N.Y.
