The Oregon Healthy Schools Act

Oregon Healthy Schools Legislation  will create high performing schools that reduce student and staff exposure to chemicals of concern,improve academic performance and staff productivity, and reduce facility maintenance and operational costs.

OEC worked with an advisory committee (partners listed on back) to develop stakeholder-informed legislation, which will facilitate and require:

• the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques (SB 637)  
 Take action: Write to your Senator!

• a replacement timeline for cleaning up diesel school buses (HB 2795)
• the use of green cleaning products (SB 668)
• the use of green building design and construction techniques in all new schools, remodels, and capital improvement projects (HB 3357)

WHY TAKE ACTION?

Asthma, which is triggered by common indoor contaminants, is the leading chronic disease leading to school absenteeism. In 2003, American school children missed 12.8 million school days due to asthma attacks.

• Pesticides commonly used in Oregon schools have been associated with cancer, hormone system damage, reproductive problems, and nervous system damage.
• Diesel exhaust is linked to asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, regional haze and global warming.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOC) in cleaning products can affect indoor air quality and also contribute to smog formation in outdoor air.
  

Oregon's Children Deserve Safe and Healthy Environments

Children, more so than adults, are vulnerable to and may be negatively affected by exposure to environmental hazards. Research shows that the environment also plays a key role in academic performance. During the school year, children spend 30-50% of their time in and around schools. Ensuring that schools are environmentally healthy, designed to foster academic performance, and safe is particularly important to children’s health and achievement.

The EPA estimates that human exposure to indoor air pollutants is commonly two to five, and up to 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. The health threats caused by the presence of certain chemicals in the school environment result in increased costs to individual schools, cleanup expenses, decreased academic performance, and increased student absenteeism. 

In 1999, the National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education conducted a survey that found that approximately 20% of schools had unsatisfactory indoor air/environmental quality. Common environmental contaminants that impact air quality in schools include cleaning products, pesticides, mold, animal dander, formaldehyde off-gassing from furniture, and vehicle emissions. Common-sense policies relating to the operations of Oregon schools can improve air quality.

A Cost Effective Way to Enhance Student Learning

Oregon schools currently procure products on a school-by-school or even an employee-by-employee basis. Cost reductions can occur by standardizing the cleaning products used in schools. (SB 668)

Integrating “sustainable” or “green” building practices into the construction of state buildings (HB 3357)  is a wise financial investment, improves academic performance, and benefits the health of the environment. In one comprehensive analysis of the financial costs and benefits of green building, it was found that a minimal upfront investment of about 2% of construction costs typically yields life cycle savings of over ten times the initial investment. For example, an initial upfront investment of up to $100,000 to incorporate green building features into a $5 million project would result in a savings of at least $1 million over the life of the building, assumed conservatively to be 20 years.

The financial benefits of green buildings include reduced energy use, waste disposal, and water costs, lower environmental and emissions costs, lower operations and maintenance costs, and savings from increased productivity and health.

Advisory Committee Participants*

• Oregon Education Association
• Oregon School Employees Association
• Oregon School Board Association
• Oregon Department of Human Services
• Oregon Sustainable Schools Initiative
• American Lung Association
• Oregon Asthma Program
• Oregon Department of Education
• Oregon School Facilities Manager  Association
• Green Building Services
• Physicians for Social Responsibility
• Portland Public Schools
• Lane County School District
• Salem-Kaiser School District
• Metro Regional Government, Waste Reduction
• Multnomah County Health Department
• Upstream Public Health

*Participation in advisory committee does not necessarily indicate endorsement of final legislative concepts.