Indoor Air Quality at School
Delawareans often have questions regarding the indoor air quality of Delaware's schools. Both parents of children who attend school and teachers who work in schools are often concerned about the quality of the air in the schools.
If you are a parent of a child in school or a teacher who works in a Delaware school, there are some helpful steps that you can take in order to address questions and concerns about the indoor air quality in schools. These steps include the following:
- Look for obvious causes of odor, such as water leaks, spoiled food or other odors that can be easily traced to a source by a teacher or a parent. It is important to remember that mold can detract from good indoor air quality. Mold growth can quickly result from water intrusion - within 24 to 48 hours. Report and address water problems immediately.
- Parents can report any odors or other air quality concerns to teachers, the principal, the school nurse or the building maintenance staff; teachers can report any odors or other air quality concerns to the principal or the building maintenance staff. Both parents and teachers can also notify school district maintenance of odors or water problems. (Select School Districts in the list provided on the next page in order to obtain a telephone number for the school of concern.)
- Follow up on any illnesses that you feel may be associated with the odor or air quality by seeing your health care provider.
- Both parents and teachers can gather additional information about indoor air quality issues through credible sources, such as the Delaware Division of Public Health - Indoor Air Quality or the Environmental Protection Agency - Indoor Air Quality, specifically the EPA's IAQ Design Tools for Schools Program.
