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The "Illinois Resource
Guide for Healthy, High-Performing School Buildings" is designed to
introduce school districts to the latest ideas and strategies aimed
at improving the health and efficiency of new and old schools. "We
want to make sure that existing classrooms and new schools being
built do not hinder the learning process but empower students and
teachers to reach their full potential," said Grimes. "The
recommendations and resources in the ‘Illinois Resource Guide for
Healthy, High-Performing School Buildings' offer school districts
practical and tested ways of controlling long-term maintenance,
energy and operating costs. Implementing concepts in the guide will
allow teachers and students to focus on learning instead of being
distracted by the small, stuffy classroom with no windows and harsh
fluorescent lights or by the drip from the ceiling that continues to
grow because of a failing roof."
"Building a new school is one of the most important investments a
community can make," said Dunn. "Decisions made now about design and
construction will affect how students learn and staff members teach
for generations. Decisions made now also will impact a school
district's finances for decades. That's why one of the first
decisions should be a strong commitment to a healthy,
high-performance facility."
The Capital Development Board, the Illinois State Board of
Education, the Healthy Schools Campaign and a team of building
design, construction, energy conservation and facility management
experts developed the guide, which will be distributed to local
school officials and parent organizations free of charge.
The guide covers such topics as energy-efficient and
environmentally friendly building systems and materials, comfort and
health standards for classrooms, kitchen and cafeteria design,
proper air quality and noise levels, "green" cleaning and
maintenance, renewable energy sources, water recycling, and school
bus use.
"There are many schools in Illinois that are 20, 30, 40 years old
or older that were built before energy efficiency and healthy
learning environments were a consideration," said Bishop. "But this
resource guide can help school officials and administrators learn
how to implement maintenance and cleaning programs to enhance
health, as well as how to build new schools that are healthier and
more efficient."
Studies show that schools with healthy environments and
high-performance design, materials and construction improve student
academic performance and attendance, better maintain student and
staff health, support healthy lifestyle choices among students and
staff, lower operating expenses, reduce the impact on the
environment, and serve as excellent teaching examples in science,
mathematics and biology
The guide breaks down the elements of a healthy, high-performing
school into sections that describe why each element is important,
how it can be incorporated into school design and what effect it
will have on other building components and operating procedures. An
extensive list of resources for school officials, administrators,
parents, architects and engineers to use during the planning and
design stages is included in the guide. The guide also has numerous
strategies that can be applied to existing buildings to make them
more environmentally friendly, healthier and more efficient.
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 The "Illinois Resource Guide for Healthy, High-Performing School
Buildings" also features case studies from 15 Illinois schools that
have implemented these practices. These schools are:
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Antioch Community
High School
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Bolingbrook High
School
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Bureau Valley School,
Manilus
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Chicago Public
Schools
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Cuba Middle School
and Senior High School
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Gallatin County
Health Center
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Lake Zurich
Elementary and Middle School
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Lakes Community High
School, Lake Villa
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Lockport Township
High School
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Mater Dei School,
Breese
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Matteson Elementary
School
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McLean County Unit
District 5, Normal
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Naperville Community
Unit School District 203
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Reagan Middle School,
Dixon
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Tarkington Elementary
School, Chicago
In addition to publishing the guide, the Capital Development
Board, the Illinois State Board of Education and the Healthy Schools
Campaign will host a series of workshops throughout the state to
spread awareness about initiatives that can improve classrooms and
save school districts money.
For more information, to order a copy or to download an
electronic copy of the guide, visit
www.healthyhighperformingschools.org.
The Capital
Development Board manages the construction, repair and
renovation of state facilities across Illinois, including colleges
and universities, mental health facilities, veterans homes, and
historic buildings. Capital Development Board projects include the
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the new State
Emergency Operations Center, and the World Shooting and Recreational
Complex in Sparta.
The Illinois State Board
of Education provides leadership, advocacy and support for the
work of school districts, policymakers and citizens in making
Illinois education "second to none."
The Capital Development Board and the Illinois State Board of
Education work together to manage the School Construction Grant
Program in Illinois.
The Healthy
Schools Campaign is a not-for-profit organization that advocates
for policies and model programs that allow students and staff
members to learn and work in a healthy school environment. The
organization works with a broad network of individuals and
organizations, including parents, teachers, school administrators,
students, public health and education advocates, policymakers, and
community leaders. Recognizing the connection between a clean
environment, healthy children and better education, the Healthy
Schools Campaign addresses the problems of asthma and obesity by
promoting school-based programs, practices and policies such as
green cleaning, healthy school design, healthy food choices and
nutrition education.
[Capital
Development Board news release] |
