Sick Buildings, Sick Students The link between a student’s
physical well-being and his or her academic performance is well
documented, and most educators agree that a healthy environment
is a key component to successful schools. But too often, “sick
schools” —those with everyday environmental problems that affect
student health—are overlooked. How widespread is the problem?
More than half of U.S. schools have indoor air quality problems
in at least some part of their campuses. Pandemic Planning for
Schools How can public schools possibly prepare for a pandemic
that would touch every aspect of society, while keeping the plan
simple enough to effectively implement? Following the suggestion
of several state and local health agencies, we decided to
explore just what kind of an impact a pandemic could have on
state and local resources, as well as on our district’s general
operations. After meeting with health, logistics, and emergency
preparation experts, we determined it would be staggering. The
Healthy Approach