We are please to announce that one school district and four schools will receive 2013 AIR Health Awards. The winning schools and district are being recognized for adopting policies and practices that make schools healthier for everyone, especially students and staff with asthma and other respiratory health problems. The winners will recieve a cash award that must be used to further their air quality and asthma control initiatives, a trophy that will be presented at a school or district event,  publicity, and an AIR Health Award winner's logo that can be used on websites, letterhead and other print materials.  Congratulations to this year's winners!

School District Award-$5,000

Hanford Elementary School District (Hanford, CA)

Hanford has comprehensive indoor and outdoor air quality programs and they train a wide-variety of district and school staff to manage asthma and eliminate triggers around the school sites.  For example, they regularly inspect school buildings, follow integrated pest management practices throughout the district, use asthma-safe cleaning products, and have strict policies about animals, smoking, and the use of products with strong odors.  Hanford is located in California's Central Valley, in a community that is exposed to high temperatures and poor air quality.  The district has a program in place to inform school personnel about forcasted air quality each day so teachers, coaches, and physical education teachers can make accomodations ensuring students recieve appropriate physical education with minimal exposure to poor outdoor air. Hanford Elementary School District wisely leverages the expertise and resources of numerous community partners to implement these successful endeavors.

School Award of Excellence--$1,500

Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary (Oakland Unified School District, Oakland, CA)

Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School is located in the West Oakland neighborhood, a community exposed to heavy truck traffic due to its proximity to the Port of Oakland. The school uses the US EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program as a foundation for its efforts.  With the support of an extremely dedicated Vista Volunteer, the school has successfully implemented an idoor air quality program that includes regular inspections of the school, including all classrooms, and comprehensive staff training on what impacts air quality in schools and how to make improvements. Martin Luther King Jr. has an impressive team of school and district personnel including administrators, nurses, facilifites staff and teachers working to make the school healthier for kids with asthma. The district also supports these efforts through their asthma, environment health, and wellness board policies.

Piedmont Avenue Elementary (Oakland USD, Oakland, CA)

Like Martin Luther King Jr., Piedmont Avenue Elementary School also uses the US EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program as a foundation for its efforts. Similarly, a Vista Volunteer has been working with the school to educate all school personnel about air quality and their role in making improvements.  As an Oakland Unified School District school, Piedmont Avenue has strong support from the district to implement board policies related to asthma education, environmental health and school wellness.

School Award of Achievement- $1,000

Harvest Christian School (Harvest Christian School District, Petaluma, CA)

Harvest Christian School has made significant efforts to reduce asthma triggers in the classroom and they have developed policies and procedures to effectively manage asthma through clear medication policies and environmental strategies. For one,  Harvest Christian School has effectively transitioned to green, asthma-safe cleaning products.

Silver Wing Elementary (Chula Vista Elementary School District, Chula Vista, CA)

Silver Wing Elementary has made significant efforts to reduce some common asthma tringers around the school. Their main emphasis is on mold management and abatement. Additionally, they have policies and practices in place to track forcasted air quality each day and notify teachers, coaches, and physical education teachers so they can make accomodations ensuring students recieve appropriate physical education with minimal exposure to poor outdoor air.