US EPA Recognizes LAUSD’s Pioneering School Safety Efforts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the Los Angeles Unified School District for, "its pioneering activities in establishing a comprehensive school health and safety inspection program which has become the model for the EPA’s Nationwide Healthy SEAT program."  Healthy SEAT is a software-based program that tracks compliance with school safety requirements.  During the next decade, the program is expected to play a major part in improving the health, safety and academic performance of millions of students throughout the nation.

Public Reaction to OEHS School Inspection Program

• “LAUSD’s program is the most progressive in the nation and will serve as an excellent model for other school districts throughout the country.”
  [Bill Jones, Schools Liaison, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]
   
• “Providing this opportunity and level of review inspires confidence in LAUSD’s commitment to health and safety at 900 school sites, ensuring problems are identified and flagged for any corrections needed.”
  [Hamid Saebfar, Chief, School Property Evaluation & Cleanup Division, California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA)]
   
• “This is a magnificent effort, which clearly marks the LA school system as the national leader in this area.”
  [Dr. Howard Frumpkin, former Chair of Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University; current Director, National Center for Environmental Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia]
   
• “...may be the first of its kind in the nation and LAUSD may well be one of the districts in the nation that needed it most. But the self-imposed accountability and customer service mentality deserve notice and may bear imitating. ”
  [Editorial, Sacramento Bee, 12-17-03]
   
• “. . . this extraordinary effort at transparency will definitely serve to improve health and safety at LAUSD schools . . .”
  [Andrea M. Hricko, Director, Community Outreach and Education, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California]
   
• “ . . . public disclosure of such information is invaluable to teachers, parents, and the extended school community in efforts to improve school safety.”
  [Jacqueline Leavy, Executive Director, Chicago Neighborhood Capital Budget Group, Chicago, Illinois]
   
• “ At a scale previously unheard of, the Los Angeles Unified School District has become a national leader by improving environmental health for nearly one million children.”
  [Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX] (See Press Release) .
   

OEHS Wins Award for Waste Reduction and Recycling

LAUSD wins National Environmental Award for 5th consecutive year.  Read the press release.   “EPA is pleased to recognize the Los Angeles Unified School District - Office of Environmental Health and Safety for its continued commitment to strong environmental policies that promote sustainability, conserve our natural resources, and protect the health and safety of students and staff.”
[Bill Jones, Schools Chief, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX] (Read more   about the award and EPA WasteWise.)

2005 Most Improved Schools

The Summer 2005 Newsletter (*.pdf)   list schools deserving special recognition for their efforts in bringing their overall compliance rating (OCR) from "Poor" in 2003 to "Good" in 2005.

Injury & Illness Prevention Training, September 2005

In September of 2005, OEHS staff were commended on their sucessful Injury & Illness Prevention Training at Westchester-Emerson Community Adult School. Read the letter from Westchester-Emerson's Principal (*pdf). 

L.A. City acknowledges OEHS Staff for Recycling Efforts

U.S. EPA Recognizes LAUSD for Indoor Air Quality Efforts

The U.S. EPA praised LAUSD for its commitment to good indoor air quality and the EPA's Tools for Schools Program.  (Read more   about indoor classroom air quality.)