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School air quality bill goes to governor
Posted: 11/9/2009 12:10:00 PM
The Assembly on Thursday (November 5) passed the School Indoor Environmental Quality Bill on a vote of 64-29. The bill now heads to the governor for his consideration.
On October 20, the Assembly Education Committee approved the bill on an 8-5 party line vote.
Additionally, the Senate approved the bill by a vote of 27-5.
Here is our original story on the bill:
Providing for our students’ education can mean more than textbooks and curriculum – it can mean a safe place to learn with clean air to breathe.
WEAC members are supporting a bill to protect the health and safety of students and school staff. The School Indoor Environmental Quality Bill will provide school districts with expertise and guidance from a state task force of diverse members that will develop recommendations for a model management plan for maintaining indoor environmental quality in schools. Additionally, the bill will ensure that over time all school districts adopt and implement a locally developed plan to maintain indoor environmental quality in their school buildings.
The Senate Education Committee unanimously recommended the bill’s passage on Thursday (September 10).
Jackie Vandenberg, a 20-year teacher, said she fears the 115-year-old West Bend school she teaches in could be behind some of her respiratory problems. Vandenberg said school building environment issues shouldn’t be factors in education.
“I am now extremely nervous about spending time in this old building, and I would like to instead be able to focus on my passion, which is teaching my 500-plus students. I fear that my environment will affect my health and the health of the students,” Vandenberg said. “Other teachers in my building have also had environmental issues and related health concerns, including those of mold growth and sewage that backed up into classroom cupboards.”
More than 20 states have passed laws to address indoor environmental quality in schools. Schools throughout Wisconsin are struggling with air quality concerns such as mold, fungi, asbestos, carbon dioxide, and poor ventilation. Left unaddressed, such issues can lead to health problems, reduced student academic achievement and teacher performance, accelerated school building deterioration, school closings, and student and staff relocation – all major disruptions of the learning process.
“Assembly Bill 358 would provide schools with the tools to better manage indoor environmental quality issues and would require that all school districts have a policy in place regarding indoor environmental quality that would meet the needs of their students and staff,” Vandenberg said.
In addition to the school environmental quality bill, the Senate Education Committee also recommended for passage a bill requiring instruction on the history of organized labor and collective bargaining as well as a bill on school safety plans, pupil records and school bullying. (UPDATE: This bill was approved, SB 154, was approved by the Senate on a vote of 29-3.)
Click here to read feedback when the bill was first presented
