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Prepared under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (2008).

Educational leaders must comprehend the hazards associated with earthquakes and conduct school safety assessments to prepare, minimize, and recover from the devastation that threatens the lives of students, teachers, and staff. This guide introduces earthquake basics, preparation measures, reduction of nonstructural hazards, and offers an assessment checklist to evaluate current school facilities (Appendix A: Reducing Nonstructural Hazards in Schools Assessment and Appendix B: An Overview of Earthquake Damage to U.S. Schools).

Earthquakes and Schools

Environmental Protection Agency (2008). (EPA 402-K-01-001)

Concern about indoor exposure to mold has been increasing as the public becomes aware that exposure to mold can cause a variety of health effects and symptoms, including allergic reactions. This document presents guidelines for the remediation/cleanup of mold and moisture problems in schools and commercial buildings; these guidelines include measures designed to protect the health of building occupants and remediators. It has been designed primarily for building managers, custodians, and others who are responsible for commercial building and school maintenance.

EPA_Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings

Prepared under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (2008).

Mitigating hazards in school facilities should be planned and implemented by those who know the school and its community best – school and district staff in alliance with local emergency responders and the school community. Working together, they can successfully: (1) Assess the safety and security of school buildings, grounds, and surroundings; (2) Make a hazard mitigation plan; and (3) Implement the plan. The article describes a 3-step process for mitigating hazards in school facilities and provides resources for further evaluation.

Mitigating Hazards in School Facilities Nov 5 09b (2)

New Mexico Safe Routes to School Program (2008).

The purpose of this handbook is to help educational facilities in New Mexico develop an Action Plan for a successful Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) program. The handbook is intended for use by parents, school staff, students, community leaders, local governments, and anyone else interested in encouraging safe walking and bicycling to school in New Mexico. This handbook describes steps for developing an Action Plan. Communities receiving SRTS funds from the NM Department of Transportation (NMDOT) are required to develop an Action Plan that meets the guidelines of this Handbook.

NMSRTS_New Mexico Safe Routes to School Handbook

Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007).

The Department of Health & Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention present a fact sheet summarizing the role of pesticides in schools. Furthermore, the fact sheets outlines recommendations for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strates which can be more cost-efficient than traditional pest control options.

Dept of Health & Human Svcs_Reducing Pesticide Exposure at Schools

LaVigne, N. G. (2007). (50)

School-related traffic congestion is defined as "the overcrowding and blocking of streets on or near school property that is typically associated with car transportation of children to and from school." Although routes to and from school are examined as part of this problem, most of the guide focuses on traffic problems that occur in the immediate vicinity of the school. School traffic congestion is included as one of the "Problem-Oriented Guides for Police" because it poses a threat to the safety of the students, teachers, parents, residents, and motorists in and around school sites. The identification and discussion of factors that contribute to school-related traffic congestion address population trends and changes in transportation modes; physical design; and new schools, residential divisions, and changes in school assignment. One section of the guide identifies the various categories of stakeholders in the problem and discusses their roles in addressing it. These stakeholders include police, parents, students, teachers and school administrators, local residents, other commuters, the transportation and planning department, school bus companies, Parent Teachers Associations and school boards, school architects and landscapers, and neighboring businesses. Questions pertinent to problem analysis are then discussed, followed by a description of how to measure the effectiveness of responses to the problem. Some guidelines for responses to school traffic congestion focus on general considerations for an effective response strategy, specific responses (changing transportation modes and implementing drop-off, pick-up, and physical design measures), and responses proven to have limited effectiveness. 29 references and appended summary of responses to traffic congestion around schools

LaVigne_N_G_Traffic Congestion Around Schools

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs (2007).

The National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schools is a part of the suite of products developed to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy in schools. It was developed specifically for designingschools.

Templeton_TestimonyHearingsbeforetheUSSenate