Healthy School Learning Environment

Physical Surroundings to Foster Health

The physical school environment includes the school buildings as well as the area and facilities surrounding them. A healthy school environment will address schools’ physical condition and will protect staff and students from physical dangers as well as biological and chemical agents in the air, water or soil including those brought into the school.

The District is committed to:

• provide 21st century learning environments that foster the education and overall well-being of the District population at large.
• utilize the Educational Adequacy Index as a tool to support the ongoing efforts of the district to remove all hazardous materials and add air conditioning to every building.
• provide physical and aesthetic surroundings that provide a safe, caring, and psychosocial climate and culture which fosters the health of students and staff (e.g., offering gender-neutral changing areas for students, upon request)
• regular cleaning and maintenance practices and ensuring compliance with safety standards. Minimizing student and staff exposure to toxins (i.e., vehicle and bus exhaust, air pollutants, cleaning products).
• establishing smoke-free buildings and grounds.
   

Education and Training Opportunities

The District strives to ensure District staff, its parents/guardians and its partners receive ongoing education and training opportunities on creating and maintaining safe and attractive learning and workplace environments that are conducive to learning and are supportive of children reaching their full potential.

All School staff including School Resource Officers receive training and education in trauma-informed practices and are provided with appropriate resources for continuous improvement.
 

Security and Safety

School Safety and Crisis Teams have been established at the District and school level to provide training and communication and assist each school in developing a crisis preparedness and response plan.

Security procedures and protocols, and staff are in place at each school to promote a safe and secure climate in each school and to ensure students are safe and secure on their way to and from school.

The Joint Labor Management Safety Committee meets monthly and includes subcommittees for food service, facilities, operations, integrated pest management and professional employees. The purpose of the committee is to reduce the number of workplace injuries and illnesses, reduction in hidden costs associated with both, and an increase in employee safety awareness in the workplace.
 

Promotion of Communication

Self-esteem and positive interpersonal relationships and communication are promoted between and among the school community and the community at large. School staff will receive professional development on supporting students in development health and effective interpersonal skills.