- Target:
- Hamilton-Wenham School Committee
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- vimeo.com
A petition to ensure that students in the Hamilton Wenham Regional School District, throughout their K-12 education, have classrooms that meet high standards of indoor air quality, as defined by ASHRAE 241 and 62.1. These standards enhance learning and protect health, as established by the extensive research from the Harvard Healthy Buildings Program.
Even if the new elementary school (a) is built and admits students starting 2028, and (b) might meet the new ASHRAE standards, a student will spend only five years (grades 1 through 5) in the new school, but eight years, kindergarten and grades 6 through 12, in schools that do not meet recommended IAQ standards. Hamilton Wenham students will therefore spend over 60 percent of their school years in classrooms with poor indoor air quality, even if the new elementary school becomes a reality. There are currently no plans even to assess much less address the poor IAQ of the existing schools.
For a small fraction of the cost of a new school, we can equip every single classroom in the district with high-quality HVAC equipment and energy-recovery ventilators, ensuring that our students are learning in the optimal comfort and health zone throughout their K-12 years. This will ensure that their test scores and attendance are maximized, as extensive Harvard research into indoor air quality shows.
The five schools in the district were constructed a long time ago, have neither modern HVAC equipment nor a program of continuous measurement and maintenance of indoor air quality (IAQ), such as that found in the Boston Public Schools district. The new standards promulgated by ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) ensure that rooms are monitored for mold, particulates, volatile organic compounds, CO, CO2, humidity and temperature.
The benefits of high IAQ standards are improved cognition and test scores; reduced absenteeism of students, teachers, and staff; reduced community spread of airborne pathogens. In the event of a severe respiratory outbreak, schools meeting the new ASHRAE standards are less likely to have to close or require masking.
PETITION TO PRIORITIZE INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ) IN OUR SCHOOLS
We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Hamilton Wenham School Committee make Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) a priority in current and future budgetary allocations and superintendent goals for the following reasons:
1. Health and Safety of Students and Staff: Poor IAQ is linked to numerous health issues, including respiratory problems, disease, asthma, and headaches, which can negatively affect the well-being of students and staff, leading to absenteeism and decreased academic performance.
2. Impact on Learning: Research has shown that poor air quality can impair cognitive function, concentration, and learning abilities. Prioritizing clean, well-ventilated air will directly contribute to the success and academic achievement of our students.
3. Long-Term Benefits: Investing in IAQ today will provide long-term benefits by reducing absenteeism, healthcare costs, improving school performance, and creating a healthier, more comfortable learning environment for everyone.
4. Mitigation of Airborne Diseases: In the post-pandemic world, maintaining high air-quality standards will help reduce the transmission of airborne viruses, such as influenza, RSV, and COVID-19, ensuring a safer environment for both staff and students. It will provide a first line of defense for students, teachers, staff and the families of all our communities. High quality IAQ measures may eliminate the need for shutdowns and masking due to future airborne pathogens.
5. Sustainability and Energy Efficiency: IAQ measures, such as the installation of Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) and air filtration systems, are energy-efficient solutions that not only improve air quality but also contribute to the district’s sustainability goals by reducing energy costs over time.
Our request: That the school committee take immediate and sustained action to allocate the necessary resources to ensure that IAQ is treated as a priority for all our schools, students, teachers, and staff, in both current and future budget planning. This includes regular/continuous monitoring, maintenance, and upgrading of ventilation systems and ensuring that all classrooms meet or exceed recommended air exchange rates for optimal health and safety, as recommended by the latest ASHRAE standards.
By signing this petition, we affirm our commitment to providing a healthy and safe learning environment for all students and staff in our schools.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Improve the health of Hamilton-Wenham Schools petition to Hamilton-Wenham School Committee was written by David Frenkel and is in the category Education at GoPetition.