Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2004-2005

Portable Classroom Investigation

Published: June 24, 2004 12 pages
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Findings 19 findings

F1
There are an estimated 80,000 portable classrooms in use in California.10 Santa Cruz county has over 600 portable classrooms in use. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Web site. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Web site. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Web site. California Air Resources Board and California Department of Health Services study. - 4 Portable Classroom Investigation
F2
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.
F3
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.
F4
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.
F5
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.
F6
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 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.
F7
Portable classrooms are exempt from having sprinkler sytems for a three-year period. This exemption can be renewed every three years.13 Some Santa Cruz County portable classrooms have no sprinkler system. All portables must have a working fire alarm.
F8
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.
F9
All portables have natural lighting. California Air Resources Board and California Department of Health Services study. Environmental Health Conditions in California’s Portable Classrooms Report. California Educational Code 17074.54. Portable Classroom Investigation - 5
F10
Two-thirds of the county’s portable classrooms have a sink, but all students have access to drinking water.
F11
The same janitorial cleaning standards are used for both portable and regular classrooms.
F12
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 it’s custodians have no training in HVAC systems.
F13
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.
F14
Many teachers use the same portable classroom for several years. Some schools rotate their teachers out of portables.
F15
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.
F16
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 suggestesd 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 is tracked through district work orders. Some schools or districts said there have been mold, ventilation or poor air quality problems in the past. Samet and Spengler, Indoor Air Pollution: A Health Perspective. - 6 Portable Classroom Investigation
F17
One school took the incentive to have its portable classrooms’ air quality tested for $1500 per test. The results concluded that its portable classrooms’ air quality was the same as that in regular classrooms.
F18
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).
F19
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. Conclusions

Recommendations 7