8405 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES - INDOOR AIR QUALITY, ANIMALS IN THE CLASSROOM, AND IDLING VEHICLES ON SCHOOL PROPERTY
The School Board recognizes its responsibility relative to student, employee, and visitor health and safety, and the need for development of a comprehensive program designed to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment on School Corporation property and at Corporation-sponsored activities. To achieve this, it is the intent of the Board that the Corporation will avail itself of the most current, proven technologies in the fields of health, safety, and environmental sciences.
STUDENT, EMPLOYEE, AND VISITOR HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Corporation shall develop and implement an environmental health and safety program that is positive, proactive, integrates responsibilities within the Corporation, and promotes and incorporates the following:
Procedures describing a hazard identification and abatement program that requires the periodic inspection of Corporation facilities, the implementation of immediate and programmed corrective actions when deemed necessary by such inspections, and the development of a corporation-wide hazard reporting procedure that enables employee/stakeholder participation. This program should also provide procedures for identifying and responding to hazards that are created by outside entities, inspecting activities of contractors, and inspecting new facilities to determine whether or not appropriate requirements for environmental health and safety have been met.
Procedures that promote environmental health and safety awareness among employees, students, and stakeholders. These procedures shall include, but not be limited to, the establishment of school and Corporation safe school committees, and the establishment of a program of regular communication with students, employees, and stakeholders about pertinent safety and health issues through available mediums in the Corporation.
Procedures directed toward the safety and health of students during transportation to and from school, at school, and during participation in school-related activities. These procedures shall include, but not be limited to, promoting bus safety for students, assessing the safety of school traffic patterns, operating school clinics, administering medication and medical treatment, promoting laboratory and shop safety, promoting safety in sports and other outdoor activities, inspecting playground equipment and promoting safety on playgrounds, and assessing environmental exposure.
Procedures related to Corporation employee health and safety issues that include, but are not limited to, provision of work areas free from recognized hazards and OSHA-related programs that are required by Federal and State law, such as, employee safety and health training and training in hazard recognition, and defining employer and employee responsibilities and expectations related to health and safety.
Procedures describing an accident reporting and investigation system that provides for identification of root causes, determination of remedial and programmed corrective actions, and provides communication about accidents to employees and stakeholders.
Procedures that detail plans for foreseeable emergencies and fire prevention.
ANIMALS IN CLASSROOMS
Live animals shall be allowed in the classroom for educational purposes with the prior approval of the Principal. No live animal will be allowed in the classroom longer than a grading period.
Animals brought into a classroom must be humanely and properly housed in cages or leashed. Animals brought into the classroom must be known to be in good health. Animals that are poisonous, venomous, or dangerous will not be allowed in the classroom.
When bringing an animal into the classroom, consideration must be given to students or staff who may be allergic to the animal. In advance of the animal being brought to school, a notification will be sent home with the students in that class informing parents of the type of animal that will be coming into the classroom. Parents will have an opportunity to notify the teacher or the Principal if their child is allergic to the animal. If a parent responds about a concern regarding a possible allergic reaction to the animal, the Principal and teacher shall discuss options that may be considered. The name of the student with the allergy shall remain confidential.
If after an animal is brought to class and school officials become aware that an individual did have an allergic reaction, the school shall resolve the issue and provide the necessary cleaning of all surfaces in the classroom to remove the allergen.
The care of an animal is the responsibility of the teacher. Cages and aquariums shall be cleaned by the teacher, not a student. Animal waste and materials from the cages shall be bagged and disposed of in a proper manner in a proper outside trash container. Wastewater from an aquarium may be disposed of by flushing it down a toilet or any sink where food is not prepared. For animals staying in the classroom for longer than that day, it is the teacher’s responsibility to provide care over the weekends and during vacations.
Under the teacher’s supervision, students may handle the animal in the classroom after being given instruction on proper handling techniques for handling the animal, as well as proper hand washing techniques after handling the animal. When appropriate, students may feed the animal under the supervision of the teacher.
Live animal presentations and assemblies under the supervision and control of a trained professional may at times have more unique animals and may not be allowed in the classrooms. These presentations are allowed in accordance with the provisions of this policy.
Exceptions to this policy are service animals and fish in an aquarium provided the fish are of a reasonable size and quantity.
Owners of pets and service animals brought on school property are liable for any harm or injury caused by the animal to other students, staff, visitors, and/or property.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ)
The Superintendent shall appoint a person to serve as the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Coordinator for the school corporation. The IAQ Coordinator shall serve as the lead contact person for matters related to indoor air quality in the facilities operated by the School Corporation. The IAQ Coordinator contact information shall be available to all students, parents, employees, and visitors by publishing the information on the school corporation’s website and in school handbooks. The school corporation shall also notify the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) of the IAQ Coordinator’s name and contact information.
Each school facility is to meet criteria established by the ISDH. During inspections by the ISDH, the inspector will investigate any condition that is or could be contributing to poor air quality including but not limited to the following: carbon dioxide levels, humidity, evidence of mold or water damage, and excess dust.
Criteria established by the ISDH are as follows:
Carbon dioxide levels shall never exceed 700 ppm over the outdoor carbon dioxide concentration.
Outdoor air shall be supplied to classrooms when occupied.
Heating facilities shall be capable of and operated during periods of student occupancy to maintain a temperature not less than sixty-eight (68) degrees Fahrenheit in all instructional rooms, offices, locker rooms, and cafeteria; sixty-five (65) degrees Fahrenheit in activity rooms and shops; and sixty (60) degrees Fahrenheit in interior toilet rooms.
When air conditioning is being provided, the system shall be capable of providing and operating during times of student occupancy to maintain a temperature not to exceed seventy-eight (78) degrees Fahrenheit and sixty-five percent (65%) relative humidity.
The school corporation shall establish and maintain a written procedure for routine maintenance of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system (HVAC). This procedure shall include the following items:
a schedule for inspecting the HVAC system, including annual inspection
ensuring that all supply and return air pathways in the HVAC system are unobstructed and perform as required
a schedule for cleaning the HVAC coils at least annually
a schedule for inspecting and changing filters
This written procedure for routine maintenance, as well as a log verifying the maintenance, was completed in a timely manner including the logging of cleaning and filter changes of the HVAC system, shall be made available for the State inspector’s review and maintained for a minimum of three (3) years.
The Board recognizes that excessive moisture levels within the schools can lead to conditions that are optimum for the development of biological contaminants, such as mold and fungi on building surfaces. The Board further recognizes that the presence of these contaminants can be harmful on contact with respiratory tissue.
Contributing factors to excessive moisture levels include the following:
roof leaks
structural defects in the building
improperly controlled humidity levels
faulty HVAC systems
As preventative measures, the Corporation shall do the following:
address prevention of water intrusion as a priority IAQ issue and implement strategies toward its elimination
When a water leak or intrusion is discovered, corrective action shall be taken within forty-eight (48) hours.
maintain environmental conditions in occupied areas that are in compliance with applicable regulations and strive to conform to consensus industry standards
implement a preventative maintenance program for HVAC systems which shall include, but not limited to, periodic filter replacement, inspection, cleaning and disinfecting processes, and procedures to eliminate the contribution to indoor air quality problems caused by this equipment
implement a system for insuring materials used and purchased for use in the construction, furnishing and maintenance, including cleaning of facilities, do not contribute to health hazards to employees and students by degrading the quality of indoor air
In addition, activities that create indoor air quality health hazards shall not be permitted.
when mold or mold-contaminated material is discovered, corrective action shall be taken within forty-eight (48) hours
Further, the school corporation shall endeavor to reduce irritants by not allowing the use of ozone generators sold as air purifiers while students are present in the classroom. Scented candles and air fresheners are not to be used in the classrooms.
In addition, the Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines for the proper monitoring of the factors that contribute to excessive moisture and for the development of mitigation plans when, and if, problems with IAQ are identified.
SCHOOL BUS AND OTHER VEHICLE IDLING
In accordance with the Indiana State Department of Health regulations, the Board endeavors to limit vehicle emissions that may be introduced into school facilities harming the indoor air quality.
The Corporation shall determine areas where idling is prohibited and post signs.
Drivers of all public and private vehicles are to turn off the engine if the vehicle is to be stopped for more than five (5) minutes in locations where the vehicle exhaust may be drawn into the building or while on school grounds. See Policy 8615 and AG 8615.
The staff will be informed of this policy at the start of each school year. Parents and students will be informed of this policy at the start of each school year at annual orientations or through student/parent handbooks.
POLLUTION CONTROL AND PREVENTION
In an effort to comply with environmental policy and applicable regulations, the Corporation shall develop and implement procedures designed to prevent air and water pollution, minimize or eliminate waste streams where possible, and identify possible sources of air and water pollution.
DRINKING WATER TESTING
The Superintendent is responsible for implementing the appropriate testing of drinking water in all school buildings in the Corporation prior to January 1, 2023. The Superintendent must test the water to determine whether the drinking water equals or exceeds the action level for lead established in the Code of Federal Regulations of fifteen (15) parts per billion or fifteen one-thousandths (.015) milligram of lead per liter of water. The Superintendent may satisfy the requirement for testing the drinking water in a school building if the drinking water in the school building:
- was tested during the lead sampling program for school buildings conducted by the Indiana Finance Authority in 2017 and 2018;
- is tested in the lead sampling program for school buildings and child care facilities conducted by the Indiana Finance Authority in 2019 and 2020; or
- otherwise has been tested for compliance with the federal standards set forth above since calendar year 2016.
Any system exceeding the action level for lead shall implement all applicable source water treatment requirements established by the State of Indiana and pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations necessary to reduce the lead level to below the action level for lead set forth above. After the implementation of applicable corrosion control and source water treatment requirements have been met, any system exceeding the lead action level shall complete a lead service line replacement. The Superintendent must provide a notice of lead tap water monitoring results to all students, staff, community members who are serving at the school sites that have been tested. If a system exceeds the lead action level, the Superintendent shall implement the public education requirements. The results of the treatment provisions shall be reported to the State of Indiana. The Corporation shall maintain records of the program in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations.
The Corporation shall test the drinking water in any child care facility or preschool operated by the Corporation before January 1, 2026, to determine whether lead is present in the drinking water in a concentration that equals or exceeds the action level for lead. Drinking water testing required by this section must be performed in accordance with the lead sampling program for school buildings and child care facilities conducted by the Indiana Finance Authority. If the drinking water in a Corporation child care facility or preschool has been tested through a lead sampling program conducted by the Indiana Finance Authority, additional testing is not required. If the testing of the drinking water in a Corporation child care facility or preschool indicates that the presence of lead in the drinking water equals or exceeds the action level for lead, the Corporation shall take action to reduce the concentration of lead in the drinking water to a level below the action level for lead by:
- eliminating the source of the lead in the drinking water; or
- installing a water filtration system that will reduce the level of lead in the drinking water to a level below the action level for lead. The water filtration system must meet the requirements of I.C. 16-41-21.2-4(e) and (f).
The Superintendent shall seek any State and Federal grant money available for lead sampling or testing, including any money available under the lead sampling program for school buildings and child care facilities conducted by the Indiana Finance Authority.
Revised 1/14/20
Revised 1/12/21
Revised 7/8/25
T.C. 12/9/25
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