Ask the Superintendent

Q- What steps are being taken to address indoor air quality issues in Broward schools?

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Officer Joshua "Josh" Czerenda from South Broward High School and Officer Robert Katz from Hunt Elementary School were the other finalists for the District's School Resource Officer of the Year.

Officer Czerenda works hard to make his school the safest and best run school in the county. His effectiveness has led to his sharing these experiences with other SROs in the country. Last year, while assigned to Attucks Middle School, he was an active G.R.E.A.T. instructor and a member of the national G.R.E.A.T. training team. At the start of the 2002/03 school year, Officer Czerenda implemented a new Security/Student Identification System, which reduced the number of non-students trespassing on campus.

In addition to handling critical incidents and truancy enforcement efforts as part of his daily duties, Officer Czerenda assisted in the search for a runaway child. He spends some of his time each day counseling students and is an active mentor with the school system's Youth Mentoring Program, making time to provide a special child with weekly guidance and advice. Whether it's one special child, or many, Officer Czerenda shows compassion for all of the children in his school.

Officer Katz has been a School Resource Officer for just two years, but in that short time he has had a very positive affect on the children. He's the kind of person children and families seek out when they have a problem, regardless of whether it's school or neighborhood related. Last year, Officer Katz was able to enlist some of the Miami Dolphins players to speak at the kick-off session and graduation of his Gang Resistance and Drug Education (GRADE) class. To keep students interested in learning about safety, he revitalized a sports card incentive program, making the needed contacts to secure photos and arrange for printing of the cards.

Officer Katz also assumed responsibility for the Coral Springs Explorer Post. Under his leadership, Explorers volunteered at 23 community events totaling more than 2,700 volunteer hours. He received top honors for this work from his peers and the Learning for Life organization. Officer Katz even found time to form an Honor Guard that performs at city events. These efforts in his school and community helped Officer Robert Katz make a positive impact on the children he touches.

A- The Broward School District is taking proactive steps to address indoor air quality (IAQ) issues in our schools by adopting a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program called "Tools for Schools." The EPA provides participating school districts with support including technical assistance, training, awards and publications to facilitate the successful implementation of the program.

"Tools for Schools" is used in over 10,000 schools nationwide. Co-sponsors of the program include the National Parent Teacher Association; National Education Association; Council for American Private Education; Association of School Business Officials; American Federation of Teachers; and the American Lung Association.

Participating schools receive a "Tools for Schools Kit" that includes a coordinator's guide, checklists for the entire building; instructional videos, a problem solving wheel, road map (plan) and an asthma guide. The kit also details the root causes of IAQ problems in schools and the detailed steps to remediate IAQ problems identified through the program.
After meeting with EPA representatives in March 2003, the first meeting of the District's Facilities Task Force IAQ Sub-committee was held to discuss the implementation of "Tools for Schools" in Broward County Schools.

In May 2003, representatives of the EPA provided training to personnel at pilot schools and in June the District initiated a Summer Monitoring Program to proactively monitor temperature and humidity readings in all schools. The monitoring program resulted in 94 work orders being initiated. Sixty-five of those work orders have already been completed and 29 more are in progress.

In November 2003, school personnel in pilot locations were trained to provide valuable, detailed IAQ information to the District by completing online surveys. The surveys included reports on excess moisture in classrooms and the condition of local exhaust fans. Other topics included general cleanliness of the building, ventilation issues, the storage of science and art supplies, and the types of plants and animals housed in classrooms. In December, work was initiated to correct problems indicated on the surveys.

We will continue to move forward. A schedule has been established for future steps in implementation of "Tools for Schools." Steps include:

• mapping of pilot locations based on complaints associated with IAQ issues;
• initiating heating and air conditioning (HVAC) preventive maintenance programs in pilot schools;
• installing Andover sensors in air handling zones in pilot schools;
• developing a Board policy to address IAQ in Broward schools;
• incorporating lessons learned from pilot schools into the design criteria for new schools;
• developing contractor and design professional recourse guidelines; and
• beginning the implementation of "Tools for Schools" in the next group of schools.