Portable Classroom Investigation Synopsis Portable classrooms have been used by schools for as long as 50 years. Most

There are an estimated 80,000 portable classrooms in use in California.10 Santa Cruz County has over 600 portable classrooms in use. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education PARTIALLY DISAGREES. Portable and classroom are not necessarily synonymous as many portables are not used as classrooms and some may not be in use at all or not in use during the entire school year. The Grand Jury supports this statement in finding #2.

Locally, portable classrooms are not used exclusively for classrooms. Some are used for district offices, music, art, computer labs and a library. At least one school is entirely made up of portables and one school has no portables. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District (BDUESD) does not know about the other portables, but each of the two on the BDUESD campuses are used fewer than seven hours per week for instrumental music lessons. One portable is also used for approximately two weeks each year during a computer robotics project. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Response: Mountain Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. California Air Resources Board and California Department of Health Services study. Portable Classroom Investigation - 5 MESD is not aware of what other districts do. We use portables for classrooms, music, Independent Study Program, Resource Specialist, Speech, School Psychologist and day care. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Currently, Pacific Elementary School uses three portable buildings. The buildings are used for the following reasons: Preschool classroom, Independent Study classroom, After School Care and Recreation, Title I Intervention tutorials, music lessons. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. The District has 90 portables used as offices, library, child care, MHS child care, Healthy Start, restrooms and storage areas. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. It should be noted that fifteen of the oldest portable classrooms in SLVUSD were demolished in July 2004. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The Scotts Valley Unified School District does not use portables for district office space. Portables are used on each school campus. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES.

The age of portables in Santa Cruz County ranges from one month old to 50 years old. Several school districts replace portables when they have been in use for 15 years. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The BDUESD is not familiar with the other portables, but the two on its campus were leased in January of 1992 then purchased by the district in September of l998. They currently remain in place. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. - 6 Portable Classroom Investigation Response: Mountain Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. MESD is not aware of what other districts do. Our oldest portable has been in use since 1988—16 years. It has been updated with modernization. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Two of the portable buildings in the district are 29 years old and have undergone considerable remodeling, however, the district is researching funding for replacement. The third building is four years old. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. The ages of the District’s portables range from being a few months old to 39 years old. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District PARTIALLY AGREES. 1) The oldest portables in SLVUSD were demolished in 2004, and 2) We have no information on other districts’ portable classrooms. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The range in age of the district's portables is from one year old to 24 years old. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES.

The EPA has not set guidelines for portable classroom air quality. However, several school districts have had their portable air quality tested. The results have shown that air quality in the portables is within the same ranges as regular classrooms. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The BDUESD does not know about the portables in other school districts. There have been no complaints or concerns expressed regarding the air quality in the two portables on the campus. If any arise in the future, the company that monitors District premises for environmental concerns will be contacted. Portable Classroom Investigation - 7 Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Pacific School District has not had air quality in the portables tested. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. We agree that the air quality in portable classrooms is typical of what is in regular classrooms. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District AGREES. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES.

The best way to ensure good air quality is to use the HVAC system (a machine which pumps heated or cooled air into the classroom). The HVAC system must be maintained for greatest effectiveness.11 In Santa Cruz County, schools clean their HVAC systems from once every four months to once a year. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The BDUESD does not know about the portables in other school districts. The HVAC systems are cleaned annually in the district. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. California Air Resources Board and California Department of Health Services study. - 8 Portable Classroom Investigation The HVAC systems are cleaned annually in the district. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. Our standards include the following action plan: • We establish a 20% fresh air supply. • We have one person dedicated to change air filters twice a year. Therefore, filters, damper and condensation drains are inspected bi-annually. • Added benefit is any mechanical failures are caught and reported directly to department, therefore, more rapid repair, less downtime and better environment condition. • New filters are designed to run for nine months. • All portables connected to EM system are turned on one hour before occupancy and off ½ hour before departure. • Ongoing effort toward standardization of equipment throughout the district. • Procedure for keeping inventory for repairs on hand. • Majority of 349 portables have individual programmable thermostats. • We manually check all portables four times a year and check thermostats. • Adjust temperature to class schedule. • Program is 15 minutes before occupancy and turned off at the end of class. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with this finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. It should be noted that different HVAC systems have different maintenance requirements. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District AGREES. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES.

New portable classrooms contain outgasing pollutants such as formaldehyde and chloroform, used in carpets.12 Most local schools said that portables are not occupied for several weeks, allowing outgasing to take place. In addition, portables are not used until the HVAC system has been operating for up to 98 consecutive hours at a moderate temperature. One school does not occupy a portable building 12 Environmental Health Conditions in California’s Portable Classrooms Report. Portable Classroom Investigation - 9 until it is released by the Inspector of Record as habitable. Districts have the option to request portables that contain lower toxic chemical levels for classroom purposes. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The BDUESD is unfamiliar with portables in other districts. Its two portables have been in place for multiple years. There are no current plans to replace them. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. The newest portable building had carpets installed that did not contain formaldehyde, however, the room was not occupied for several weeks after installation. The older buildings are scheduled for carpet replacement. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. The District will not occupy any portable turned over by the contractor/ manufacturer until the punch list is completed and the HVAC unit has run for seven days/168 hours at a moderate temperature, and then the construction filter is replaced and the room, walls, floors, casework have been cleaned as well. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with this finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District AGREES. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES.

Portable classrooms are exempt from having sprinkler systems for a three-year period. This exemption can be renewed every three years.13 Some Santa Cruz 13 California Educational Code 17074.54. - 10 Portable Classroom Investigation County portable classrooms have no sprinkler system. All portables must have a working fire alarm. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. Both of the BDUESD portables have working fire alarm systems. One portable is equipped with a sprinkler system. The District will investigate the installation of a sprinkler system in the other. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Although the report does not identify the portable classrooms that have no sprinkler system, it should be noted that Education Code 17074.52 exempts portables that are used as single classrooms and sited more than 25 feet from any other building, including any other portable building, from being equipped with a sprinkler system. Education Code requires that the system in such a building consist of an automatic fire detection and alarm system. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. Although the report does not identify the portable classrooms that have no sprinkler system, it should be noted that Education Code 17074.52 exempts portables that are used as single classrooms and sited more than 25 feet from any other building, including any other portable building from being equipped with a sprinkler system. Education Code requires that the system in such a building consist of an automatic fire detection and alarm system. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Due to the average response time for fire & rescue within the district (even though the school site is actually located within a block of the local fire station) the newest portable building was built with two-hour fire walls, as required by the State Architect. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. All of the District’s portables have a fire alarm system unless they are in storage or being used for storage. The District has only a few portables with sprinkler systems. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Portable Classroom Investigation - 11 Although the report does not identify the portable classrooms that have no sprinkler system, it should be noted that Education Code 17074.52 exempts portables that are used as single classrooms and sited more than 25 feet from any other building, including any other portable building from being equipped with a sprinkler system. Education Code requires that the system in such a building consist of an automatic fire detection and alarm system. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with this finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District AGREES. Although the report does not identify the portable classrooms that have no sprinkler system, it should be noted that Education Code 17074.52 exempts portables that are used as single classrooms and sited more than 25 feet from any other building, including any other portable building from being equipped with a sprinkler system. Education Code requires that the system in such a building consist of an automatic fire detection and alarm system. As required by the Division of State Architecture (DSA), modular classrooms (10) at Scotts Valley High School do have sprinklers. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES. Although the report does not identify the portable classrooms that have no sprinkler system, it should be noted that Education Code 17074.52 exempts portables that are used as single classrooms and sited more than 25 feet from any other building, including any other portable building, from being equipped with a sprinkler system. Education Code requires that the system in such a building consist of an automatic fire detection and alarm system.

The California Education Code 17077.10 requires all classrooms to have a telephone. Eighty-three percent of local portable classrooms do not have a telephone, although some do have an intercom. One district reported that at one school site, the permanent portables have phones but the temporary portables have no phones. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District AGREES. Both of the District’s portables have working telephones. Response: Live Oak School District PARTIALLY AGREES. All classrooms in the Live Oak School District have telephones including portable classrooms. - 12 Portable Classroom Investigation Although the Live Oak School District agrees that telephone connection to a public switched network is a worthy goal and an added element to ensuring student safety, Education Code 17077.10 does not require all classrooms to have a telephone. E.C. 17077.10 states: (a) it is a goal of the Legislature to eventually enhance pupil safety by equipping all elementary and secondary school classrooms with a telephone hook connected to a public switched network and (d) commencing with applications submitted on or after January 1, 2000, any school district applying for funding pursuant to this chapter shall include in its plans and specifications for construction of a new or modernized school building…a hard-wired connection to a public switched telephone network in each new or modernized classroom. Response: Mountain Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. MESD is not aware of what other districts provide. All portables on our campus have both telephones and intercom access. However, Education Code 17077.10 does not require all classrooms to have a telephone. E.C. 17077.10 states: (a) it is a goal of the Legislature to eventually enhance pupil safety by equipping all elementary and secondary school classrooms with a telephone hook connected to a public switched network and (d) commencing with applications submitted on or after January 1, 2000, any school district applying for funding pursuant to this chapter shall include in its plans and specifications for construction of a new or modernized school building…a hard-wired connection to a public switched telephone network in each new or modernized classroom. Response: Pacific School District PARTIALLY AGREES. Education Code 17077.10 does not require all classrooms to have a telephone. E.C. 17077.10 states: (a) it is a goal of the Legislature to eventually enhance pupil safety by equipping all elementary and secondary school classrooms with a telephone hook connected to a public switched network and (d) commencing with applications submitted on or after January 1, 2000, any school district applying for funding pursuant to this chapter shall include in its plans and specifications for construction of a new or modernized school building a hard-wired connection to a public telephone network in each new or modernized classroom. All portable classrooms in Pacific School District are equipped with telephones. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The District installs a phone or an intercom system or both in every portable temporary or not. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District PARTIALLY AGREES. Portable Classroom Investigation - 13 CA Ed Code seems to imply that telephones in portable classrooms is a desirable goal, however, CA Ed Code does not seem to require telephones in portable classrooms at this time. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education PARTIALLY AGREES. Although the County Office of Education agrees that telephone connection to a public switched network is a worthy goal and an added element to ensuring student safety, Education Code 17077.10 does not require all classrooms to have a telephone. E.C. 17077.10 states: (a) it is a goal of the Legislature to eventually enhance pupil safety by equipping all elementary and secondary school classrooms with a telephone hook connected to a public switched network and (d) commencing with applications submitted on or after January 1, 2000, any school district applying for funding pursuant to this chapter shall include in its plans and specifications for construction of a new or modernized school building…a hard- wired connection to a public switched telephone network in each new or modernized classroom. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District DISAGREES. California Education Code 17077.10 does not require all classrooms to have telephones. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District PARTIALLY AGREES. Although the Scotts Valley Unified School District agrees that telephone connection to a public switched network is a worthy goal and an added element to ensuring student safety, Education Code 17077.10 does not require all classrooms to have a telephone. E.C. 17077.10 states: (a) it is a goal of the Legislature to eventually enhance pupil safety by equipping all elementary and secondary school classrooms with a telephone hook connected to a public switched network and (d) commencing with applications submitted on or after January 1, 2000, any school district applying for funding pursuant to this chapter shall include in its plans and specifications for construction of a new or modernized school building…a hard- wired connection to a public switched telephone network in each new or modernized classroom. All portable classrooms have both phone and intercom. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District partially AGREES. Although the Soquel Union Elementary School District agrees that telephone connection to a public switched network is a worthy goal and an added element to ensuring student safety, Education Code 17077.10 does not require all classrooms to have a telephone. E.C. 17077.10 states: (a) it is a goal of the Legislature to - 14 Portable Classroom Investigation eventually enhance pupil safety by equipping all elementary and secondary school classrooms with a telephone hook connected to a public switched network and (d) commencing with applications submitted on or after January 1, 2000, any school district applying for funding pursuant to this chapter shall include in its plans and specifications for construction of a new or modernized school building…a hard- wired connection to a public switched telephone network in each new or modernized classroom.

All portables have natural lighting. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District AGREES. Both of the portables in the BDUESD have natural lighting. The status of other districts is not known. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. All portable classrooms in Pacific School District have natural lighting provided by sufficient windows. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. All of the District’s portables have natural lighting and windows that open as well. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District AGREES. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES.

Two-thirds of the county’s portable classrooms have a sink, but all students have access to drinking water. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY DISAGREES. Portable Classroom Investigation - 15 The two BDUESD portables do not have sinks, but all students have access to drinking water. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. All portable classrooms in Pacific School District have sinks and drinking water. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. All portable rooms have access to drinking water. Elementary school portables that don't have a drinking water source are supplied with bottled water. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with this finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District AGREES.

The same janitorial cleaning standards are used for both portable and regular classrooms. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District AGREES. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. We agree that the same custodial standards are used in both portables and regular classrooms. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. - 16 Portable Classroom Investigation Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with this finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District AGREES. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES.

The HVAC system is operated by maintenance staff at most sites. Maintenance personnel keep records of all HVAC work performed. In one district an HVAC Specialist is responsible for ensuring effective ventilation. The Director of Maintenance and Operations supervises the work. Another district employs an HVAC Maintenance Technician whose primary job responsibility is to repair and service all district HVAC equipment. Teachers can also request training for HVAC systems, according to some districts. One district said that its custodians have no training in HVAC systems. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The BDUESD HVAC system is operated by maintenance and custodial personnel. Outside services are contracted with as needed. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Custodians in the Live Oak School District have training in HVAC systems. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. At Mountain, the maintenance staff is responsible for operating and maintaining the HVAC system. We also employ local service companies to repair and service our systems. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Pacific School District hires a local HVAC Maintenance Service to monitor needs and service equipment. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. We agree that our maintenance staff keep records of HVAC work performed. All of the worked performed on portables is supervised by the M&O supervisory staff. In Portable Classroom Investigation - 17 most of our portables, teachers have full access to the thermostats, and we show them how to operate them to set the temperature. Portables that are connected to our EMS have HVAC programming as outlined in 5 above. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with this finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District PARTIALLY AGREES. Some routine maintenance is done by district wide staff. Other maintenance is performed by outside HVAC contractors. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES.

No local agency tracks student or staff illness in either portable or regular classrooms. Some schools track illness upon complaint about a particular portable. One district said it doesn’t track illness because medical privacy laws restrict the ability to track student or teacher health issues. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The BDUESD monitors student and staff illnesses and responds when patterns of illnesses indicate a need. No complaints have been made regarding portable buildings. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. As noted in the finding, most districts track reported illness originating from a particular building or classroom. In many instances, however, the student and teacher population may be migratory in that they may utilize multiple classrooms/buildings during any given day. Although privacy restrictions do apply to an individual record, illnesses can be tracked in terms of numbers without identifying particular individuals. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. As noted in the finding, most districts track reported illness originating from a particular building or classroom. In many instances, however, the student and - 18 Portable Classroom Investigation teacher population may be migratory in that they may utilize multiple classrooms/buildings during any given day. Although privacy restrictions do apply to an individual record, illnesses can be tracked in terms of numbers without identifying particular individuals. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Pacific School District monitors student and staff illnesses and responds when patterns of illnesses indicate a need. No complaints have been made regarding portable buildings. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. We agree with the findings that we don't have the ability to track illness related to portable buildings. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. As noted in the finding, most districts track reported illness originating from a particular building or classroom. In many instances, however, the student and teacher population may be migratory in that they may utilize multiple classrooms/buildings during any given day. Although privacy restrictions do apply to an individual record, illnesses can be tracked in terms of numbers without identifying particular individuals. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with this finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. If alerted by staff or parents, SLVUSD will track reported illness originating from a particular classroom. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District AGREES. As noted in the finding, most districts track reported illness originating from a particular building or classroom. In many instances, however, the student and teacher population may be migratory in that they may utilize multiple classrooms/buildings during any given day. Although privacy restrictions do apply to an individual record, illnesses can be tracked in terms of numbers without identifying particular individuals. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES. Portable Classroom Investigation - 19 As noted in the finding, most districts track reported illness originating from a particular building or classroom. In many instances, however, the student and teacher population may be migratory in that they may utilize multiple classrooms/buildings during any given day. Although privacy restrictions do apply to an individual record, illnesses can be tracked in terms of numbers without identifying particular individuals.

Many teachers use the same portable classroom for several years. Some schools rotate their teachers out of portables. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The BDUESD’s portables have not been utilized as regular classrooms for many years and are only used intermittently for instrumental music lessons and computer robotics. (See response to statement #2) Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Pacific School District has not rotated teachers out of the portable buildings because of the district’s small size and number of classrooms. Teachers prefer to remain in the same location and have classroom setups that do not need to be reorganized. Each classroom is selected to best meet the needs of the teachers and students occupying them, for example, the preschool has an age-appropriate play yard and the After School Rec. building is near the playing field and playground. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. We have found that there is almost an ownership of the classroom. Often we have found as strong a feeling from a teacher to keep "their" portable class room as we have found teachers who don't want to teach in regular class rooms. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with this finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. - 20 Portable Classroom Investigation Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District PARTIALLY AGREES. Teachers are rotated based on the program, enrollment and staffing needs at each school. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES.

The areas beneath portables are closed or skirted to deter animals from going under the portable classroom. Sometimes this skirt can wick moisture from the soil beneath the portable and cause problems. Areas beneath portables are checked for damage annually or upon the request of a teacher. If there is damage or anything unusual is noted, such as an odor or mildew, the teacher fills out a “request for maintenance” form at which time maintenance is performed. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The BDUESD is unfamiliar with the portables in other districts, but inspections of portables are a part of routine maintenance. The teacher, other staff, or visitors to the campus may also report a suspected problem. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. Inspection of portables and other buildings are a part of routine maintenance. Reporting a suspected problem is not limited to teachers but may be filed by the teacher, other staff, parent or community member. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Inspection of portables and other buildings are a part of routine maintenance. Teachers or other staff report suspected problems to the Administrator, who monitors all maintenance needs. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. We agree with this finding except that reporting a suspected problem is not only limited to teachers but may be filed by other staff (and parents) as well. The reporting of a suspected problem is always investigated and often leads to inspections of other portable buildings. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Portable Classroom Investigation - 21 Inspection of portables and other buildings are a part of routine maintenance. Reporting a suspected problem is not limited to teachers but may be filed by the teacher or other staff. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with this finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District AGREES. Inspection of portables and other buildings are a part of routine maintenance. Reporting a suspected problem is not limited to teachers but may be filed by the teacher or other staff. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES. Inspection of portables and other buildings are a part of routine maintenance. Reporting a suspected problem is not limited to teachers but may be filed by the teacher or other staff.

Water damage promotes mold and bacteria growth, which have been linked to possible illnesses. Type I allergy to mold reportedly affects between two and 30 percent of those with allergies. Culture studies have been performed to examine the prevalence and identity of mold contamination in the indoor environment. In one study, cladosporium, penicillium, and alternaria were found to be the predominating airborne fungi present, each being detectable in more than 75% of the structures studied. The study suggested that when a level of 700 colony-forming units per cubic meter of indoor air was exceeded, higher incidences of allergic reactions and eye, nose and throat irritation are encountered.14 Portables are checked for water damage at least once a year or upon the request of a staff member. Most schools said maintenance problems in portable classrooms are tracked through district work orders. Some schools or districts said there have been mold, ventilation or poor air quality problems in the past. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The BDUESD portables are inspected on a yearly basis. There have been no reports of complaints or suspected problems in the two portables. If some arise, the 14 Samet and Spengler, Indoor Air Pollution: A Health Perspective. - 22 Portable Classroom Investigation company that monitors the premises for environmental concerns will be contacted for an inspection. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Finding 17 supports that districts address air quality monitoring and testing. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. When there have been comments about water leaks or odor issues in the portables, we have immediately repaired damage and have had the portable checked for mold and other dangerous substances, replacing carpets, repainting, etc. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Although there have been no complaints or suspected problems, Pacific School District will research services to test air quality this school year in response to this finding. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. We agree with this finding that there is evidence that high levels of mold can result in higher incidence of allergic reactions. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Finding 17 supports that districts address air quality monitoring and testing. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with this finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District AGREES. Finding 17 supports that districts address air quality monitoring and testing. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES.

supports that districts address air quality monitoring and testing. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. When there have been comments about water leaks or odor issues in the portables, we have immediately repaired damage and have had the portable checked for mold and other dangerous substances, replacing carpets, repainting, etc. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Although there have been no complaints or suspected problems, Pacific School District will research services to test air quality this school year in response to this finding. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. We agree with this finding that there is evidence that high levels of mold can result in higher incidence of allergic reactions. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES.

All school districts must provide a written report annually of the pesticides in use on school sites.15 One district reported that any toxic cleaning products, pesticides or fertilizers used are listed in the Material Safety Data Sheets, kept at each site. Parents and staff are notified in writing and the site is posted if any pesticides or fertilizers are used during the school calendar days. No highly toxic cleaners are used in this district’s classrooms. Another district said it abides by the state regulations regarding pesticide use in schools. The list of toxic products that may and may not be used as well as the posting requirements are covered in these regulations. This district uses pesticides only to abate a known and specific problem, not for general upkeep. In addition, the grounds are fertilized in the summer and spring during school breaks. A third school district uses environment-friendly products such as EcoExempt HC (active ingredient: clove oil, purpose: weed control), EcoExempt (active ingredient: rosemary oil, purpose: insect control) and ZP Rodent Bait AG (active ingredient: zinc phosphide, purpose: gopher control). Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY DISAGREES. The Healthy Schools Act of 2000 does not require that all schools annually report pesticide use on campus. Education Code Section 17611 requires that each school site maintain records of all pesticide use at the school site for a period of four years and shall make the information available to the public upon request. Education Code 17612 requires that the school district designee shall annually provide to all staff and parents or guardians of pupils enrolled at a school site, a written notification of the name of all pesticide products expected to be applied at the school facility during the upcoming year. Section 17612(a)(2) requires that if a pesticide product not included in the annual notification is subsequently intended for use at the school site, the school district designee shall, at least 72 hours prior to application, provide written notification of the intended use. The BDUESD avoids the use of pesticides when school is in session. Records of any pesticide use are maintained. These are available to the public upon request. If any pesticides are to be used (to abate specific problems) during the school year, written notification of the substance and its intended use will be given to the parents. An annual written report of pesticides in use at the school is published. Healthy Schools Act of 2000. - 24 Portable Classroom Investigation Response: Live Oak School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The Healthy Schools Act of 2000 does not require that all schools annually report pesticide use on campus. The act requires that those school districts that voluntarily adopt an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to include record keeping and program review in their program (E.C. 17608 and Food and Agricultural Code Section 13183). Education Code Section 17611 does require that each school site maintain records of all pesticide use at the school site for a period of four years and shall make the information available to the public upon request. Education Code 17612 requires that the school district designee shall annually provide to all staff and parents or guardians of pupils enrolled at a school site, a written notification of the names of all pesticide products expected to be applied at the school facility during the upcoming year. Section 17612(a)(2) requires that if a pesticide product not included in the annual notification is subsequently intended for use at the school site, the school district designee shall, at least 72 hours prior to application, provide written notification of the intended use. Response: Mountain Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The Healthy Schools Act of 2000 does not require that all schools annually report pesticide use on campus. The act requires that those school districts that voluntarily adopt an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to include record keeping and program review in their program (E.C. 17608 and Food and Agricultural Code Section 13183). Education Code Section 17611 does require that each school site maintain records of all pesticide use at the school site for a period of four years and shall make the information available to the public upon request. Education Code 17612 requires that the school district designee shall annually provide to all staff and parents or guardians of pupils enrolled at a school site, a written notification of the names of all pesticide products expected to be applied at the school facility during the upcoming year. Section 17612(a)(2) requires that if a pesticide product not included in the annual notification is subsequently intended for use at the school site, the school district designee shall, at least 72 hours prior to application, provide written notification of the intended use. Mountain ESD almost exclusively uses non-toxic substances as pesticides on campus. Response: Pacific School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The Healthy Schools Act of 2000 does not require that all schools annually report pesticide use on campus. Pacific School District has adopted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that includes record keeping and program review of the program (E.C. 17608 and Food and Agricultural Code Section 13183). Education Code Section 17611 does require that each school site maintain records of all pesticide use at the school site for a period of four years and shall make the Portable Classroom Investigation - 25 information available to the public upon request. Education Code 17612 requires that the school district designee shall annually provide to all staff and parents or guardians of pupils enrolled at a school site, a written notification of the names of all pesticide products expected to be applied at the school facility during the upcoming year. Section 17612(a)(2) requires that if a pesticide product not included in the annual notification is subsequently intended for use at the school site, the school district designee shall, at least 72 hours prior to application, provide written notification of the intended use. Pesticides are limited to abating specific problems (gophers) and parents are notified with each application. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The Healthy Schools Act of 2000 does not require that all schools annually report pesticide use on campus. The act requires that those school districts that voluntarily adopt an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to include record keeping and program review in their program (E.C. 17608 and Food and Agricultural Code Section 13183). Education Code Section 17611 does require that each school site maintain records of all pesticide use at the school site for a period of four years and shall make the information available to the public upon request. Education Code 17612 requires that the school district designee shall annually provide to all staff and parents or guardians of pupils enrolled at a school site, a written notification of the names of all pesticide products expected to be applied at the school facility during the upcoming year. Section 17612(a)(2) requires that if a pesticide product not included in the annual notification is subsequently intended for use at the school site, the school district designee shall, at least 72 hours prior to application, provide written notification of the intended use. We are a District that uses environmentally friendly products like the EcoExempt products. In cases where a stronger chemical application is needed (termite, flea, gopher treatments and the like), we provide written notification through the administrative staff of the school site to the parents, at least 72 hours prior to application and, install postings at the site stating when, what and why a product is being used. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District PARTIALLY AGREES. (Please refer to Health Schools Act of 2000. CA Ed Code as follows: 17608, 17611, 17612, 17612(a)(2). Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education PARTIALLY AGREES. The Healthy Schools Act of 2000 does not require that all schools annually report pesticide use on campus. The act requires that those school districts that voluntarily adopt an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to include record keeping and program review in their program (E.C. 17608 and Food and - 26 Portable Classroom Investigation Agricultural Code Section 13183). Education Code Section 17611 does require that each school site maintain records of all pesticide use at the school site for a period of four years and shall make the information available to the public upon request. Education Code 17612 requires that the school district designee shall annually provide to all staff and parents or guardians of pupils enrolled at a school site, a written notification of the names of all pesticide products expected to be applied at the school facility during the upcoming year. Section 17612(a)(2) requires that if a pesticide product not included in the annual notification is subsequently intended for use at the school site, the school district designee shall, at least 72 hours prior to application, provide written notification of the intended use. Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. We rarely apply pesticides and only in emergency situations. We adhere to Education Code 17612. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The Healthy Schools Act of 2000 does not require that all schools annually report pesticide use on campus. The act requires that those school districts that voluntarily adopt an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to include record keeping and program review in their program (E.C. 17608 and Food and Agricultural Code Section 13183). Education Code Section 17611 does require that each school site maintain records of all pesticide use at the school site for a period of four years and shall make the information available to the public upon request. Education Code 17612 requires that the school district designee shall annually provide to all staff and parents or guardians of pupils enrolled at a school site, a written notification of the names of all pesticide products expected to be applied at the school facility during the upcoming year. Section 17612(a)(2) requires that if a pesticide product not included in the annual notification is subsequently intended for use at the school site, the school district designee shall, at least 72 hours prior to application, provide written notification of the intended use. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District PARTIALLY AGREES. The Healthy Schools Act of 2000 does not require that all schools annually report pesticide use on campus. The act requires that those school districts that voluntarily adopt an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to include record keeping and program review in their program (E.C. 17608 and Food and Agricultural Code Section 13183). Education Code Section 17611 does require that each school site maintain records of all pesticide use at the school site for a period of four years and shall make the information available to the public upon request. Education Code 17612 requires that the school district designee shall Portable Classroom Investigation - 27 annually provide to all staff and parents or guardians of pupils enrolled at a school site, a written notification of the names of all pesticide products expected to be applied at the school facility during the upcoming year. Section 17612(a)(2) requires that if a pesticide product not included in the annual notification is subsequently intended for use at the school site, the school district designee shall, at least 72 hours prior to application, provide written notification of the intended use.

Placement of portable classrooms near parking lots increases the air toxins, due to vehicle exhaust.16 Local schools and districts said that the location of portable classrooms varies even within a district. Traffic is one of many factors in considering a portable’s placement; relatively few are near cars or buses. Response: Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District AGREES. The BDUESD portables are not located near parking lots, cars or buses. The BDUESD is not familiar with portables in other school districts. Response: Live Oak School District AGREES. Response: Mountain Elementary School District AGREES. Response: Pacific School District AGREES. Because of the very limited space on Pacific School’s campus, there is no flexibility in portable placement. The preschool building, which was the first installed, has been placed away from parking and traffic. The more recent buildings, however, are adjacent to a road, but there is very little traffic. Response: Pajaro Valley Unified School District AGREES. The District places most of these portables away from roads and parking lot areas for safety, noise and air issues. Response: Santa Cruz City Schools District AGREES. Placement of portable classrooms near parking lots increases the air toxins, due to vehicle exhaust. Local schools and districts said that the location of portable classrooms varies even within a district. Traffic is one of many factors in considering a portable's placement; relatively few are near cars or buses. Response: Santa Cruz County Office of Education AGREES. Santa Cruz Sentinel, 17 October 2003. - 28 Portable Classroom Investigation Response: San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District AGREES. San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agrees with this finding only as it pertains to SLVUSD portable classrooms. Response: Scotts Valley Unified School District AGREES. At one site (SVMS) four (4) portables are located 24 feet from parking stalls for a small staff parking lot (14 stalls). All other portables are from 35 feet to 50 feet from parking areas. Response: Soquel Union Elementary School District AGREES. Conclusions