Partners working toward Healthy Schools in New Hampshire have established a program to help school districts improve indoor and outdoor environments and the health of their students and staff. From 2008 to 2010, the Healthy Schools Program intends to work with at least two school districts and provide free assessment, training, technical assistance, and mentoring to address environmental and asthma management needs identified by the schools.

In addition, the N.H. Asthma Control Program will make grants available to be used to purchase supplies, materials, equipment, or further technical assistance in order to implement healthy school improvement plans developed through the program. Benefits to participating schools will include no-cost school assessment and technical assistance, financial assistance in the form of a grant for related activities, improved school environments, and student and staff health, and formal recognition of achievements.

Healthy Schools partners include: N.H. Department of Education, N.H. Department of Environmental Services, N.H. Asthma Control Program, N.H. Partnership for High Performance Schools, N.H. Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions, Breathe New Hampshire, N.H. Coalition of Occupational Safety & Health, and Local Government Center. To help improve indoor and outdoor air environments at your school, as well as the health of students and staff, join the N.H. Healthy School Environments Program.

Here is upcoming legislation relative to improving air quality in New Hamphire's schools. The tentative hearing date for HB 1289, 1391 & 1265 is January 12 at the Legislative Office Building on 33 North State St. in Concord. Click on the links for more information. 

HB1289 Relative to air quality in public schools

HB1391 Implementing the Tools for Schools program in public schools

HB 1456 Establishing a committee to study the use of pesticides, herbicides and their alternatives in residential neighborhoods, school properties, playgrounds and other places where children congregrate

HB1265 Requiring school boards to develop a policy to address air quality issues in schools