Spokane Public Schools

1. Spokane Public Schools Journey to Sustained Excellence

2. Get to know Spokane • Second largest city in the state • Population: 202,000 • 271 miles from Seattle • No, it does not rain all the time in Spokane. We have 4 seasons. No tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes or tsunamis. We do have snow.

3. Home of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Big Red Wagon Bloomsday-12K Hoopfest-3on3

4. Spokane Public Schools Second Largest School District in Washington State • 34 elementary schools (Grades K thru 6) • Six middle schools (Grades 7 & 8) • Six high schools (Grades 9 thru 12) • 1 Skill Center • Four special schools • 12 support buildings • 4 million square feet of buildings • 5,000 staff members • 28,000 students • 2954 Asthmatic students (documented)

5. IAQ History In 1978, Spokane Public Schools’ Board of Directors faced a difficult challenge: how to renovate or replace 18 elementary school sites in a short period. Many of the sites had buildings and systems that were 40-50 years old. With almost 40,000 students in the district at the time, the board needed a large-scale solution.  The answer came in the form of the “Proto-typical Design”, often called “Rainbow Schools” because of the large rainbow painted on the playground wall. 

6. Solution A single design (with floor plans flipped occasionally) for all 18 schools saved enormously on design and construction costs. Tilt-up concrete walls, smaller windows and fewer outside exposed surfaces provided significant savings in monthly energy costs.

7. Problem By the early 1990’s continuous IAQ problems in our facilities created tension between administrators and school staff. This resulted in the formation of the Indoor Air Quality Joint Committee whose purpose was to resolve IAQ issues district wide. Through this committee SPS became involved with the EPA TFS kit and sought funds to hire an IAQ Coordinator (Industrial Hygienist) to oversee the IAQ management program. Fast-forward to 2002. The 18 “Rainbow Schools” suffered from leaky roofs, inadequate insulation, inefficient lighting, and heating and cooling systems in need of frequent repair. The 2003 bond began the process of replacing those major systems to ensure the Rainbow Schools will continue to be great places for students learn.

8. Solution Support from the School Board • Adopted a 25-year modernization plan to replace or renovate the district’s 50 site inventory. • Rolling plan includes School Construction Bonds presented to the voters on a 6 year cycle • 2003 Bond included over $165 million- replaced 3 elementary schools and 1 high school athletic facility. Provided major renovation to 2 high schools, and replaced 30 year old roofs, insulation and heating/cooling systems at 8 elementary schools.

9. 2009 Bond passed with voter approval of $332 million for repairs, replacements and renovations. • Will include replacement or renovation of 4 elementary schools, 1 high school, and another 7 elementary roofing, insulation and HVAC system replacements. • Upgrades in the roofing, insulation, HVAC and lighting have returned in excess of $500,000 in rebates from our local utility company.

10. Cooperating Partners • Washington Association of Maintenance and Operations Administrators (WAMOA) Networking with other Maintenance and Operations Administrators, on-line support, workshops, seminars, and conferences • Spokane Regional Health District School Advisory Board Members, workshops and annual school inspections • Washington State Department of Agriculture Integrated Pest Management • Spokane Education Association SEA/Leadership IAQ Committee • Washington State Department of Labor & Industries Consultation Division • American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists • American Association of School Administrators • Urban/Rural Healthy Schools Coalition

11. On-Going Efforts • IAQ Committee with members from Safety, Maintenance, Custodial, Capital Projects, Architects/Engineers- meets 6 times/year • Microsoft Sharepoint data tracking software • SEA/Leadership Committee- meets 3 times/year • Filter crew- changes filters 6 times/year instead of 3 times/year • IAQ air monitoring cart

12. Future actions • Closing the graduation gap. We plan to explore all contributing factors that influence students dropping out of school. • EPA lead paint rule (renovation, repair, painting) • Design review of our new/modernized schools by the IAQ committee. • Training/workshops with SEA union.

13. Air monitoring station Courtesy of Washington State Dept. of Health

16. Fluke 975 IAQ Carbon Monoxide Carbon Dioxide Temperature Relative Humidity Also does: Dew Point Wet Bulb Fluke 983 Particle Counter 0.3 microgram 0.5 1.0 2.0 5.0 10.0 Equipment

17. Room Information Today’s Date ___/____/____ School/Location: _____________Room Number: ________________ Floor___________ Name: ___________________________ Type of ventilation? __________ Type of flooring? __________ Windows can be opened? __________ Were they open the day of the testing? __________ How often is the classroom door open? % of the day __________ Is the door kept closed during class time? __________ What time is lunch? __________ What is your prep hour? __________ Average number of students in this classroom? __________ Are there any after school activities in this room? __________ If so, what days and for how long? __________ How long have you worked in this room? __________ Do you have any specific concerns? ____________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you. Lynda Martin, Industrial Hygienist Safety Services, 354-4634

22. Wet Insulation found using a Thermal Imaging Camera