It is important for our Board of Education to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) to support students, teachers, and learning in the classroom.  Currently, only three (Lake Zurich High School, Spencer Loomis, and Middle School North) of eight schools have air conditioning.  Unfortunately, students and staff in ALL schools have noted that indoor air quality is problematic according to the Fall 2012 surveys posted on the district website: http://www.lz95.org/results_available_from_recent_social_emotional_learning_survey_/ 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Ventilation rates in most schools are below recommended levels. Growing evidence of the positive impact of outdoor air ventilation suggests a clear opportunity for improving health and academic performance.” Furthermore, studies posted on the EPA website note a direct correlation between IAQ and improved performance of both students and adults.  For example, “Children in classrooms with higher outdoor air ventilation rates tend to achieve higher scores on standardized tests in math and reading than children in poorly ventilated classrooms.”  Currently, we have students attempting to work in spaces that are drastically too cold (60-some degrees) or too hot and humid (90-100 degrees) for real learning to take place--when the optimum temperature for learning is 72 degrees.  Our children and school staff deserve much better than this. 

The time is now for the Board of Education in Lake Zurich District 95 to discuss IAQ and create a plan of action that will begin the process of installing and maintaining HVAC systems that will improve the learning and working environment for all students and staff in our school district and will allow our students to reach their fullest potential.