Handbook Detail Page

Air Quality in Schools: Tacoma Public Schools conducts routine tests to ensure classrooms have the amount of air flow required by the state Department of Health. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department inspects all TPS sites every other year. If they discover an indoor air quality issue, TPS would get a recommendation to fix the identified issue within 30 days. The district has met and continues to meet or surpass state air quality requirements. 

Current efforts
In addition to routinely meeting or exceeding health department air quality standards, as determined by routine health department inspections, the district also:

• Changes air filters at least 3 times per year compared with the industry standard of twice per year
• Increased fresh air intake into the structures to maximize fresh air capacity at all sites
• Purchased two air monitoring devices identical to what the health department uses so the district can inspect between health department visits and respond to any staff concerns

New efforts
TPS is also working to modify school HVAC systems to reach state health department recommended (not required) modifications to meet even higher standards of air quality. All school sites will be updated to meet this higher recommended standard, unless they already meet the recommendation. This work will be funded with both bond and federal recovery dollars.

School	Inspection	Year Inspected/IAQ Test	Pass/Fail
Arlington	TPCHD	December 20 2019	Pass
Baker	TPCHD	December 2 2019	Pass
Birney	TPCHD	January 11 2019	Pass
Blix	TPCHD	May 8 2019	Pass
Boze	TPCHD	New School 2020	Pass
Browns Point	TPCHD	September 2019	Pass
Bryant	TPCHD	November 18 2019	Pass
Central Admin Office Café	TPCHD	March 16 2021	Pass
Crescent Heights	TPCHD	September 2019	Pass
DeLong	TPCHD	June 6 2019	Pass
Downing	TPCHD	April 20 2021	Pass
Edison	TPCHD	February 16 2021	Pass
Fawcett	TPCHD	February 23 2021	Pass
Fern Hill	TPCHD	March 9 2021	Pass
First Creek	TPCHD	January 17 2020	Pass
Foss	TPCHD	March 20 2018	Pass
Franklin	TPCHD	March 30 2021	Pass
Geiger	TPCHD	March 13 2019	Pass
Giaudrone	TPCHD	May 22 2019	Pass
Grant	TPCHD	New School 2019	Pass
Gray	TPCHD	March 27 2019	Pass
Hunt	TPCHD	New School Sept. 2021	Pass
IDEA	TPCHD	January 19 2019	Pass
Jefferson	TPCHD	April 20 2021	Pass
Larchmont	TPCHD	March 19 2021	Pass
Lincoln	TPCHD	February 28 2019	Pass
Lister	TPCHD	April 11 2019	Pass
Lowell	TPCHD	March 20 2019	Pass
Lyon	TPCHD	New School 2019	Pass
Manitou Park	TPCHD	December 20 2019	Pass
Mann	TPCHD	May 15 2019	Pass
Mason	TPCHD	December 13 2019	Pass
McCarver	TPCHD	January 30 2019	Pass
Meeker	TPCHD	May 30 2018	Pass
Mt Tahoma	TPCHD	October 4 2019	Pass
NE Tacoma	TPCHD	November 15 2019	Pass
Oakland	TPCHD	November 18 2019	Pass
Pt Defiance	TPCHD	May 6 2021	Pass
Reed	TPCHD	February 16 2021	Pass
Roosevelt	TPCHD	April 19 2019	Pass
SAMI	TPCHD	December 19 2018	Pass
Sheridan	TPCHD	April 11 2019	Pass
Sherman	TPCHD	February 14 2019	Pass
Silas	TPCHD	March 3 2020	Pass
Skyline	TPCHD	June 6 2019	Pass
SOTA- Ted Brown	TPCHD	March 26 2021	Pass
Stadium	TPCHD	October 21 2019	Pass
Stafford	TPCHD	February 23 2021	Pass
Stanley	TPCHD	March 30 2021	Pass
Stewart	TPCHD	November 8 2019	Pass
Truman	TPCHD	February 20 2020	Pass
Wainwright	TPCHD	September 24 2019	Pass
Washington	TPCHD	January 6 2019	Pass
Whitman	TPCHD	June 7 2019	Pass
Whittier	TPCHD	March 13 2019	Pass

School Inspections performed are in accordance with the Washington State Board of Health Guide - Health & Safety Guide for K-12 Schools In Washington rules WAC 246-366-140 OSPI-DOH

Note: Due to district size and limited TPCHD personnel each Tacoma school student occupied site is inspected every other year.

School inspections will resume when TPCHD has personnel available - Inspections were stopped in March of 2020 due to Covid and resumed temporarily 1 year later in 2021.

School Inspections performed are in accordance with the Washington State Board of Health Guide - Health & Safety Guide for K-12 Schools In Washington rules WAC 246-366-140 OSPI-DOH

Ventilation - Retrofitting of older buildings is recommended but not required.

Schools kitchens, pools, intrusion sites, UST and modifications are inspected per a different appointment

 

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act: In 1986, Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act AHERA), which requires schools to be inspected to identify any asbestos-containing building materials. Suspected asbestos-containing building materials were located, sampled (or assumed) and rated according to condition and potential hazard. Every 3 years, Tacoma Public Schools conducts a reinspection of each site to determine whether the condition of the known or assumed asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) has changed and to make recommendations on managing or removing the ACBM. At the
last reinspection, all materials listed in the management plan as asbestos-containing (or assumed to be asbestos-containing) were inspected. The law further requires an asbestos management plan to be in place by July 1989. Tacoma Public Schools developed a plan, as required, which has been continually updated. The plan has several ongoing requirements: publish a notification on management plan availability and the status of asbestos activities; educate and train its employees about asbestos and how to deal with it; notify short-term or temporary workers on the locations of the asbestos-containing building materials; post warning labels in routine maintenance areas where asbestos was previously identified or assumed; follow set plans and procedures designed to minimize the disturbance of asbestos-containing building materials; and survey the condition of these materials every six months to assure that they remain in good condition. Each school has an AHERA binder in the main office.

The following schools contain no asbestos-containing building materials; therefore, no operations and maintenance programs or future inspections are required: Mount Tahoma High, Science and Math Institute, Baker Middle, First Creek Middle, Giaudrone Middle, Gray Middle, Jason Lee Middle, Mason Middle, Meeker Middle, Truman Middle, Stewart Middle and Wainwright Middle and the following elementary schools: Blix, Crescent Heights, DeLong, Edison, Fern Hill, Franklin, Geiger, Jefferson, Lister, Manitou Park, McCarver, Northeast Tacoma, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Sherman, Stafford and Washington.

It is the intention of Tacoma Public Schools to comply with all federal and state regulations controlling asbestos and to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure students and employees a healthy and safe environment in which to learn and work. You are welcome to review a copy of the asbestos management plan in the school district administrative office or administrative office of the school during regular business hours. All inquiries regarding the asbestos plan and asbestos-related issues should be directed to the Maintenance and Operations Department at 253-571-3300. (AHERA information adapted from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

 

Integrated Pest Management Program: The purpose of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program is to provide an environmentally responsible long-range systems approach to pest management within our schools.

Applying IPM principles is intended to prevent unacceptable levels of pest activity, by the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment. The full range of escalating alternatives, including no action and/or changes in maintenance practices, will be considered.

Notification of Pesticide/Herbicide (P/H) applications: 

• Schools shall provide notice, annually or upon enrollment or hiring, of the district’s pest control program, which includes the posting and notice requirements for pesticide application. 
• To notify parents, staff and other users of school properties of a planned pesticide application, written pre-notification will be given to the building administrator. The building administrator will be responsible for pre-notification of interested parents/guardians and staff of upcoming Pesticide/Herbicide (P/H) treatments. Posters will be provided to the building administrator to be posted in designated areas at the school. Such posters will normally be provided at least 48 hours before the application of P/H. When school is not in session, prior notice will not be given if there are 48 hours or more before students reoccupy. In this circumstance, treated areas will still be posted at the time of application.
• Signs will be placed at the main entrance(s) to each school and near the site of interior applications. If the application of ground, the entries to the grounds areas and the main entrance of the school will be posted as well as the site of application. Signs must be placed at all entrances to an affected area or building, and in other strategic locations to prevent human contact with the treated area. Signs will remain in place for at least 24 hours after application or under manufacturer’s direction if longer.

Products to be used: 

• Zep Wasp and Hornet Killer, Ranger Pro, SureGuard, Ferromec AC, AmPro Weed and Feed, Casoron 4G, PasturePro, Amine 400 2-4D, Candor, Talstar, Phantom, Tempo, Shurcrop Ferrous Sulphate, Specticle G, ant baits (Terro, Advance, Uncle Alberts) and rodent baits (Contrac, Wisdom and Suspend SC)

Location of where Pesticides/Herbicides may be applied:

• Playfields, ball fields, lawn areas, ornamental beds, trees and school buildings (interior and exterior). NOTE: Records of applications and the annual summary of Pesticides/Herbicides applied are on file with Tacoma Public Schools. A copy of this program or the above documents may be requested through our Public Records Office located at 601 S. 8th St., Tacoma, WA 98405. Interested parents/guardians of students or staff at a specific school may annually request advance notice of P/H application through their principal. (Revised 4/2015)

 

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Page last updated: 09/01/21