CEFPI member Dave Hill has championed good indoor air quality in schools, having won several awards including the EPA's Sustained Excellence Award. Here, Hill shares his views about maintaining healthy school environments.

How does it feel to be on the top of the game in indoor air quality in schools?
It is an honor, but at the same time very humbling to be recognized for the work we are doing in Blue Valley. Our school district has always been about creating and maintaining exceptional learning environments for students. We are using the opportunity that this recognition has given us to build relationships and further promote creating and maintaining exceptional learning environments for students with our peers. We believe we can be a model for others to follow and are actively promoting the EPA's IAQ Tools for School program and the EPA's mentorship network.

"The experience of being a mentor and a resource for other school districts has been very satisfying and extremely rewarding." - Dave Hill

Perhaps the greatest outcome of being recognized with the Sustained Excellence Award has been the mentoring opportunities that have come to us. Our EPA region (Region 7) refers other districts in the area to us who are developing their own IAQ programs or have general questions about IAQ and dealing with IAQ in a school environment. The experience of being a mentor and a resource for other school districts has been very satisfying and extremely rewarding.

What drives your school district to maintain high indoor air quality?
We know that excellent indoor air quality contributes to student success. The sustained success of Blue Valley's district-wide indoor air quality management program ultimately depends on the people and the organization responsible for implementing it. We have been successful in cultivating an atmosphere within the organization of program ownership and building stewardship among all of the employees responsible for maintaining excellent indoor air quality for our students.

We felt so strongly about excellent indoor air quality that we made it a part of our district's strategic plan. We have created target goals and institutional supports within the strategic plan that focus on maintaining and improving indoor air quality. The target goals are written in S.M.A.R.T. language. That is, they are strategic, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and time-bound. The plan adds clarity and creates the important connection that maintaining outstanding learning environments through excellent indoor air quality contributes to student success.

At the pinnacle of our strategic plan is personalized student learning for each and every student. Our vision statement is, "Together, we will enable each child to become more than he or she ever hoped to be." Our employees understand the important role they play in contributing to individual student success for each child. Creating this connection is very powerful.

How has your membership in CEFPI helped in this endeavor?
CEFPI was the catalyst for our school district to get involved in indoor air quality and specifically the EPA's IAQ Tools for School issues. During a time when school districts operating budgets were (and still are) being cut, CEFPI provided scholarships and incentives to get involved and remain involved in important activities. I can say with confidence that our district would not have been involved with EPA's IAQ Tools for School program like we are today had it not been for the opportunities and resources that CEFPI has provided us.

Aerial view of Lakewood Elementary School and Lakewood Middle School in Blue Valley School District

Is there any further value or assistance that The Council can provide you in achieving your professional goals?
CEFPI has positioned itself as the leader in educational facility design. As such, they have been, and will continue to be a valuable resource for those of us who are practitioners in educational facility design. CEFPI's focus in three main areas: advocacy and education, training and professional development, and research and dissemination of information, is right on target for what I need as a member. I know if I need an advocate for something I am trying to achieve in my district, I can count on CEFPI. They provide best practices training and professional development in areas that are meaningful and relevant. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, they conduct and support research which furthers our profession.

Do you think that all educational facility professionals should be involved in planning good IAQ initiatives for school districts?
I cannot think of ANY reason why an educational facility professional should NOT be involved in planning good IAQ initiatives for school districts. Excellent indoor air quality contributes to student success – research proves this. It should be the goal of every educational facility planning professional to create and maintain exceptional learning environments for students. Good IAQ is absolutely essential to that success.

What are future plans for Blue Valley in developing schools with good IAQ?
We are constantly in search of the best systems products and practices to create and maintain exceptional learning environments for our students. Staying involved in CEFPI gives us one more resource to draw upon in that search. Through our participation as an EPA mentor district for the region and the nation, we continue to learn and grow by assisting others. We also have several future goals and/or accomplishments we expect to achieve with our IAQ management program in the next five years:

• By June 2006, the Blue Valley School District will facilitate at least two IAQ seminars or training sessions per year (ongoing) for staff to increase knowledge and awareness of successful indoor air quality practices.
• By January 2007, the Blue Valley School District will assist in the development of an IAQ Tools for Schools users network within the Kansas City metropolitan area to increase information sharing and awareness among school districts.
• By September 2008, the Blue Valley School District will double the number of school districts mentored in the Kansas City region to promote the development of good IAQ Programs using the EPA's Tools for Schools kit.
• To support an orderly school environment, by May 2009, 100% of Blue Valley survey respondents will rate the indoor air quality of their learning environments as a 4 or higher on a 5 point scale.
• By September 2010, 100% of all Blue Valley school facilities will meet ASHRAE standards to improve indoor air quality.
• By September 2011, 50% of all Blue Valley school facilities will utilize displacement air technology and CO2 sensors to improve indoor air quality.

Merle Kirkley is New CEFPI President-elect

Merle Kirkley, at-large representative, has been elected CEFPI's next president-elect. Kirkley is the director of educational technology for Saxton Bradley, Seattle, Washington. During the past year as industry partner representative, Kirkley has served in an advisory position to the Board. A member of the Council for the past nine years, Kirkley has served as Washington chapter president, regional governor and co-chair of the Pacific Northwest regional conference. He contested against long-time CEFPI member, Edward M. McMilin, for the post.

"My vision is to see us grow everywhere, including internationally, by seeking and utilizing the most talented people from across the globe. I see finding and disseminating research as a key driver of growth in the organization." he said.

Congratulations to the 2006 CEFPI Foundation & Charitable Trust Distinguished Merit Scholars!

The CEFPI Distinguished Merit Scholarship Award is a nationally competitive merit-based scholarship program open to undergraduate and post-graduate students seeking financial support to continue their educational opportunities. Up to one award is given per region. The CEFPI/FACT Distinguished Merit Scholarship committee met and reviewed 19 applications and identified the following 2006 Merit Scholar Award recipients:

The CEFPI Foundation & Charitable Trust Distinguished Merit Scholars are listed below. Each of these scholarship winners has received a check for $1,000.

Andrew M. O'Fallon		Midwest Great Lakes region
Leif B. Friggstad		Pacific Northwest region
Jason D. Mellard		Southern region
Ryan J. Althizer (Jake)		Southeast region
Alfred R. Sena, Jr.		Southwest region
Amanda G. Bertoldi		Australasia region

The Midwest Great Lakes region will match the $1,000 award given to Andrew O'Fallon, who will receive a total of $2,000.

Strong CEFPI Presence at AASA Conference

Brian Krupski and Mike Deegan at the AASE Conference

CEFPI members showed a strong presence at the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Conference in San Diego. The Council's President-elect, Merle Kirkley, gave a presentation about the Council, its mission and its goals in improving learning environments for children everywhere. CEFPI board members, David Anstrand and Wayne Roberts served on the jury for the prestigious Shirley Cooper and Walter Taylor awards. The Shirley Cooper award was presented to VCBO Architecture of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the firm's design of Prototype Middle School in the Alpine, Utah, School District while the Walter Taylor award was won by RB&B Architects of Fort Collins, Colo., for its design of Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins. Congrats to both VCBO Architecture and RB & B Architects!

The conference was also attended by CEFPI's executive director/CEO, Thomas Kube, assistant director of professional development, Mike Deegan and assistant director of marketing & membership, Brian Krupski. "There was lots of traffic to our booth at the conference and we were able to interact with several of our members and school district officials nationwide," Deegan said.

CEFPI Foundation Invites Research Proposals for 2006

The CEFPI Foundation is inviting research proposals dealing with issues concerning "Where Children Learn®". CEFPI will consider multiple proposals and may fund up to three submissions this year. One award will be reserved for students completing a Master's or Doctoral thesis/dissertation. Details are available at: www.cefpifoundation.org/researchprop.doc. The deadline to submit proposals is May 2, 2006.

ISSUETRAK Highlights Adaptive Reuse Project

CEFPI's latest ISSUETRAK Building Community: A Post-Occupancy Look at the Maryvale Mall Adaptive Reuse Project, shows how the Maryvale Mall in Phoenix, Arizona was transformed into a state-of-the-art educational facility. Read full issue here.

New Educational Facility Planner Released

This double issue features conference papers presented at the 2005 International Conference in San Antonio. The issue is diverse in content and offers perspectives on learning environments, capital need, cooperative planning, teaching methodology, planning & designing, energy efficiency and technology. Read whole issue here.

CEFPI Strategic Planning Meeting

The CEFPI board, staff and regional representatives will meet at the Hyatt Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona from July 14-16 for the annual strategic planning meeting.

New Membership Survey Soon

Get ready for a new member survey and let us know how best we can serve you.

Reserve Exhibitor Space for our Annual Conference!

Take a look at who else is exhibiting! Take a peek!

Hurry! Reserve your booths early for our 83rd annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona from September 17-18, 2006. Register at: www.cefpi.org/2006tradeshow.

Space Planning Guidelines Released

CEFPI just released the Space Planning Guidelines for Institutes of Higher Learning. The guidelines provide an estimate of the gross amount of non-residential space that may be needed by an institution on its main campus to meet current or projected conditions for each type of room. The guidelines have been authored by Paul Abramson, President, Stanton Leggett & Associates and Edward A. Burnap, a consultant in the planning and programming of higher education facilities. The guidelines are available to members at $30 and to non-members at $40 and can be purchased at shop.cefpi.org.

EPA Offers Free Webcasts on Healthy School (HealthySEAT) Software

The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) is offering a series of webcasts to help acquaint states, school districts, and others with the capabilities and features of the new Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT). The webcasts are being offered free of charge. During the webcast, participants are connected by telephone as well as computer and will be able to participate in a demonstration of the features of HealthySEAT and ask questions of project staff. To sign up for one of the HealthySEAT webcasts, e-mail Christine Trimble TrimbleMC@cdm.com.

Upcoming Webcasts:

• Thursday, April 6, 2006, 1:30-3:00 Eastern Daylight Saving Time
• Thursday, May 4, 2006, 1:30-3:00 Eastern Daylight Saving Time

Overwhelming Response to Call for Speakers

CEFPI's call for speakers at this year's international conference received an overwhelming response. Final speaker selection will be done by the end of April, 2006.

Members on the Move:

Mr. John Ciccarelli has joined as Studio Leader at LS3P Associates Ltd based in Charleston, SC.

NTDSTICHLER opens new office in Tucson, Arizona
NTDSTICHLER Architecture has announced the opening of a new office in Tucson, Arizona. "The growing demand for evidence-based design from a full service firm and Tucson's record setting growth make the addition of this office a welcome necessity," Jon Baker, CEO and President of NTDSTICHLER said in a press release.

Harding Joins Facility Group
Kenneth A. (Ken) Harding has joined The Facility Group as the Business Unit President of the newly formed newspaper/print media business group, according to a press release. Harding will be based out of Denver, Colorado.