History

Goals

Background

Getting Started

History

In response to numerous inquiries about air quality problems in schools, the New Brunswick Lung Association decided to look into delivering a program that would help “in-house” school teams to identify and resolve very basic air quality concerns. With the support of the New Brunswick Department of Education, school district personnel and the school principal, Priestman Street School, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, was selected as the pilot of the project, in 2000. A multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee was formed, comprised of representatives from the New Brunswick Departments of Education, Health and Wellness, Environment and Natural Resources and Energy; the NB Teachers’ Association; and air qualtiy, energy and social marketing professions, to provide expertise and guidance throughout the project.

To begin at Priestman Street School, the program was first introduced to all staff members, and they were asked to complete surveys specific to their work areas. The Lung Association compiled the results to identify actual and potential air quality problem areas in the school and to establish the base level of knowledge among the staff. A school environmental team was then formed to represent all members of the school population. This included an administrator, a teacher, a custodian and a parent. Through this diverse group, the interests of all were represented, communication was improved and a reporting and feedback mechanism was established. (At the middle and high school levels, students could be included to participate on the team). Materials were later developed to enhance the program and the process to best deliver the program was modified. A menu of environmental initiatives such as recycling, school grounds greening and idling was also developed as additional options to the program.

Since the second year, the project has expanded to approximately ten schools each year, and has now been introduced to almost 50 schools in eight school districts, both English and French, and at an aboriginal school at Elsipogtog First Nation. Inquiries about the program have also come from schools, individuals and various organizations from across Canada and beyond.

To date, the program’s greatest impact has been with the issue of school bus idling. Initially, the goal was to reduce idling during dismissal times, but this soon evolved into the concept of “no idling” during these times. It was originally thought that the flashing safety lights, required during the drop off and loading of students, would drain the bus batteries if the engines were turned off. This theory was tested first at one school in District 6, and then at additional schools, and no problems were encountered when restarting the engines. As a result, a no-idling policy was introduced in May 2002. Hearing of this success, a number of other school districts also introduced no-idling policies. There was, however, no uniform policy for all districts. Again, in cooperation with the Department of Education and the New Brunswick Lung Association, a policy was developed. As a result, in October 2005, a province-wide idling policy for all school buses was announced by the Minister. New Brunswick is the first province to have such a policy.

Now entering it’s seventh year, the Healthy School Program will continue to assist schools in resolving simple environmental concerns, and it will promote the Healthy School’s curriculum resources which will expand the program’s reach to involve students. The program will also focus on developing a province-wide guideline or policy aimed at chemical-free approaches to pest control.

In the following year, the project will expand to Aboriginal schools throughout New Brunswick. This work will be an opportunity to work with Aboriginal leaders to tailor the Healthy School Program to their culture and communities.

The Healthy School Program continues to be a flexible project that allows schools to improve or maintain their indoor and outdoor environments. It is important to remember that this is an ongoing program, and that even the smallest of improvements will have a positive impact on overall air quality.