Healthy School Environment

BPS is committed to providing high-performing school buildings and grounds that are clean, in good repair, have healthy indoor air quality and water quality, have sanitary and accessible bathrooms, and use resources efficiently.

Incorporate Healthy School Environment into your School Wellness Council Action Plan, based on the Healthy School Environment Section of the District Wellness Policy. Topics include:

– Green Cleaners
– Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
– Trash and Recycling
– Infection Prevention & Control
– Tobacco Free Environmental Policy
– School Environmental Inspections/Audits
– Student Safety/Health in School Shops
– BPS Water Policy
– Laboratories and Chemical Inventory “Right to Know” Law
– Idling of buses and other motor vehicles on school property

WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Healthy School Environment Toolkit image

CHILDREN LEARN BEST IN HEALTHY SCHOOLS

The Boston Public Schools Healthy School Environments Toolkit was developed to assist BPS School Leaders and their Wellness Councils implement the Healthy School Environment Policy, a component of the District’s Comprehensive Health & Wellness Policy. The Toolkit is a guide for assessing, taking action, communicating, and evaluating environmental, health, and safety issues in our schools. It provides definitions of environmental factors to consider, links to current policies, procedures, and best practices to address specific environmental factors identified in the annual BPS School Environmental Audits.

TAKE ACTION

GETTING STARTED
The BPS District Wellness Policy was created to align with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model.

The BPS District Wellness Policy seeks to ensure all students are safe, healthy, welcomed, engaged, supported, and challenged. The eight content sections of the policy are: (1) cultural proficiency, (2) school food and nutrition promotion, (3) comprehensive physical activity and physical education, (4) comprehensive health education, (5) healthy school environments, (6) safe and supportive schools, (7) health services and (8) staff wellness. The policy requires schools to establish school-based wellness councils that are responsible for assessing the school on implementation of the wellness policy, developing an action plan, and implementing the action plan.

The following BPS policies promote a healthy school environment:

Health and Wellness (Linked Here)
- District Wellness Policy
- Healthy School Environments
- Tobacco and Nicotine-Free Environment
Facilities Management (Linked Here)
- Drinking Water Access
- Environmental Audits
- Green Cleaners
- Integrated Pest Management
- Recycling and Zero Waste
- Science Safety in Laboratories and Classrooms
DISTRICT AND SCHOOL WELLNESS COUNCILS

BPS maintains a Superintendent-appointed District Wellness Council (DWC). The DWC develops, recommends, reviews, and advises on implementation of school district policies that address student and staff wellness. The council is made up of BPS Central Office department heads, school-based staff and administration, community partners, and students and family representatives, all of whom offer expertise in the various health-related issues addressed by the policy. General membership to and attendance at the DWC is open to all stakeholders and the public. This council creates a space where collaboration can happen across organizational silos and disciplines to develop high standards for healthy school facilities, instruction, student services, and engagement of staff, students, and families.

DISTRICT WELLNESS COUNCIL
If you’d like to join the BPS Healthy School Environment Committee, a subcommittee of the District Wellness Council (DWC), or any other sub-committee of the DWC, please contact Maryka Lier at mlier@bostonpublicschools.org.

SCHOOL WELLNESS COUNCILS
Boston Public Schools understands that physical, social and emotional well-being, and positive development are inextricably linked with academic success. School-based wellness councils are the primary engines for creating safe, healthy, and sustaining learning environments at each school. School Wellness Councils act as a shared leadership team to implement the District Wellness Policy and wellness-related policies at each school. All Boston Public Schools are required to establish and maintain a school-based Wellness Council. Learn more on the BPS Health & Wellness website.

WELLNESS CHAMPION PROGRAM
The Wellness Champion Program aims to promote the implementation of the District Wellness Policy by building the capacity of schools to sustain active Wellness Councils and to implement wellness initiatives in schools. School-based staff will receive professional development in their chosen domain, one-on-one technical assistance, and the opportunity to build a peer network of support.

A Wellness Champion is an active member of a school community with a commitment to creating a healthier school environment. Each school is eligible to have two Wellness Champions in separate domains. Healthy School Environment is one domain. Learn more on the BPS Health & Wellness website.
SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS
AIR QUALITY
Boston Public Schools implements a “layered risk reduction approach” to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management, as recommended by the U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Education.

Boston Public Schools has installed ~4400 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) sensors across all BPS schools. The installation of indoor air quality sensors, accompanied by a public dashboard, implements the “IAQ Monitoring and Reporting” layer of the BPS Indoor Air Quality Management Plan’s layered risk reduction approach.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) sensors have been installed in all BPS classrooms, Nurse’s Offices, and Main Offices, with a roof-top unit installed in every school building to measure outdoor air as a baseline per location.

Each sensor records the following IAQ parameters:
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Airborne particulates – Total (PM10)
- Airborne Particulates – Respirable (PM2.5)
- Temperature (T)
- Relative Humidity (RH%)
BPS has adopted IAQ standards following federal, state, and local guidance on indoor air quality and ventilation in schools. The BPS Facilities Management team will continue to take action based on those standards.

To learn more about BPS Indoor Air Quality Management, access the public dashboard, and review the BPS Indoor Air Quality Monitoring and Response Action Plan, visit https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Page/8810.
ANTI-IDLING VEHICLES & SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS

To help support idling reduction efforts in Massachusetts schools, MassDEP makes Idling Reduction signs and materials available to Green Team schools.

Schools must be registered Green Team schools (free, easy registration) and submit a completed Idling Reduction Signs and Materials Application Form to be considered for this assistance. The completed application form must be signed by the principal and submitted by fax to THE GREEN TEAM at the fax number on the form or scanned and emailed to recycle@thegreenteam.org.

BPS Schools are also encouraged to use the resources available on our Transportation page, including Safe Routes to Schools and the On Air Anti-Idling Campaign materials.
CLUTTER CLEAN-OUTS
Does your school have clutter?

Consider launching a decluttering effort at your school. Use the BPS Declutter and Green Out Guide to assist you.

Decluttering Benefits:
- Decrease in pest incidents
- Decrease in asthma triggers such as dust
- Improved air quality
- Increase in available school space for academics, enrichment, and organized storage
- Improved access for daily custodial work
- Improved cleanliness and “look” of the school for school community and visitors
GREEN CLEANERS

Promote the use of green cleaners in schools by following the BPS Green Cleaners Policy.

BPS is committed to providing and maintaining high-performing buildings and grounds in an environmentally-friendly and sustainable manner. The Green Cleaners Policy applies to all Boston Public School buildings and grounds, including offices, classrooms, restrooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums, hallways, pathways, kitchenettes, stairwells, etc.

TIP: Every school has a chemical dispensing system managed by the school custodial staff. Collaborate with custodial staff to set up a “Green Cleaner Station” where teachers can leave reusable spray bottles to be filled with the general green cleaner. Use the green cleaner with paper towels instead of any pre-soaked wipes. Discourage any use of pre-soaked wipes.
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)
What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
IPM is a comprehensive strategy to manage pests using multiple control tactics with the least cost and environmental impact. IPM includes increased monitoring, improving sanitation, eliminating pest harborage sites, and using lowest impact pesticides as necessary. Use and share the BPS IPM Guide to understand the district IPM policy and tips for a successful program.

Requirements
- All schools must have an IPM Plan (Indoor & Outdoor) and Logbook and designated IPM Coordinator.
- Plans must be registered with the State.
- Copy of the school plan and logbook must be in the main office.
- State regulation requires all Boston Public Schools to use less toxic pesticides found on the State’s approved list.
- Pesticides only be applied by a licensed pest control contractor on school property.
- No School Staff (including Custodial Staff) may apply any pesticides (i.e. weed killer, rodenticide, etc.) on school property.
Top Five Pests
1. Mice
2. Cockroaches
3. Rats
4. Bed Bugs
5. Fruit Flies

How to Control Pests
1. Keep them out: Use door sweeps, fill rodent holes, and eliminate rodent pathway areas.
2. Starve them: Avoid keeping food stored in classrooms. If you must store food, use plastic containers with sealed-tight lids.
3. Don’t give them a home: Avoid having clutter, clutter provides shelters for pests to hide in or materials for pests to build nests.
WATER

By law, all students must have access to water throughout the school day, at no cost.

Review the BPS Drinking Water Access Policy and the BPS Drinking Water Access Superintendent’s Circular FMT-20.

The results of annual and activation BPS Water Testing can be found linked at https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/water.

BPS Facilities Management Environmental Division annually samples all online water units used for drinking and food preparation for lead and copper concentrations. BPS annual testing will adhere to Mass DEP’s guidance for Sample Collection Procedures for schools and early education childcare facilities, available at the following link: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/drinking/how-to-collect-a-drinking-water-sample-for-lead-and-coppe.html. This testing protocol does not include any sinks used for facility cleaning or hand-washing, including but not limited to those found in utility rooms, bathrooms, science labs, prep rooms, and classrooms. These sinks are not to be used for drinking or any other consumptive purpose such as food preparation and shall be posted as such.

For more information on water at Boston Public Schools, visit https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/water and review the BPS Drinking Water Fact Sheet.
ZERO WASTE

DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS:

The District Wellness, through the Office of Health and Wellness, annually supports Wellness Champions in the eight content sections of the District Wellness Policy. For example, the BPS Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program trained and supported eleven 2018-2019 BPS Healthy School Environment Champions, who completed schools-based environmental projects, such as recycling, green cleaning, and decluttering, at their schools. That year, Conley Elementary School was awarded the Healthy School Environment Award for creating a school environment where students understood how to reduce, reuse, and recycle and took ownership to implement the three R’s into the culture of the school.
In SY20-21, Boston Public Schools, led by the BPS Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program, made the unprecedented decision to invest in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) sensors in all BPS schools. The sensors were installed in all classrooms, Main Offices, and Nurses’ Offices across the district, with one outdoor sensor installed on every school’s rooftop. The sensors report real-time IAQ data to an online, public dashboard, and the BPS Facilities Management team uses the data to take appropriate action on elevated IAQ levels and request investments in HVAC systems districtwide.
- As a result of this pioneering work, BPS has been invited to present its experience to the White House COVID-19 Taskforce and Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, Environmental Law Institute, U.S. Green Building Council, and Center for Green Schools, as well as other public health and air quality experts, influencing national and international technical guidance and resources for improving indoor air quality in K-12 schools.
- BPS has since been awarded a $15.4M Improving Ventilation and Air Quality (IVAQ) Grant from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Best in Class – Energy Efficiency Plus Health from the 2023 U.S. Department of Energy’s Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign, and a 2023 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Award.
The BPS Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program is partnering with Boston University Public Health on an approved research study entitled “Understanding indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and energy use in classrooms, and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 engineering controls, a pilot study.”
- The study is transforming the IAQ sensor data into research data, and includes data analysis and reporting; addressing inaccuracies in data due to calibration, connectivity, and power issues; and developing IAQ communications materials (e.g. facts sheets) for the BPS community.
  - Fact Sheet #1 (Sept. 2023)
In collaboration with the BPS Department of Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the Shah Family Foundation, and the City of Boston Public Facilities Department, BPS Facilities Management renovated 106 school kitchens within a four year period. Of the 106 kitchens, 81 have been rolled out to support on-site meal preparation and cooking. Due to the pandemic, 25 schools remain to be rolled out during the school year 2022-2023. FNS and Facilities Management also partner closely on IPM and water testing all kitchen equipment used for food prep to ensure healthy, safe cooking and eating spaces in BPS schools.

CONTACT US

Facilities Management
1216 Dorchester Ave.
Boston, MA 02125
617-635-9576