SMART SCHOOLS DON'T IDLE!

This is a program being piloted at elementary schools in Marion County, implemented by Improving Kids’ Environment and the City of Indianapolis Knozone program, through a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  The “Smart Schools Don’t Idle” program is completely free to participating schools.

An increasingly common cause of children missing school is asthma, and air pollution is one of the common asthma triggers.  Studies have linked high pollution levels at schools to increased absence and lower academic performance.  Even with the high price of gasoline, many people do not understand that idling vehicles can create air pollution “hot spots” that can bring on an asthma attack and make even healthy children and adults feel poorly (headaches, itchy eyes, sore throats).  On school grounds, idling vehicles include school buses, parents waiting to pick up or drop off children from school or other activities, and delivery vehicles.  Often, the pickup/dropoff areas are located near fresh air intakes, so the vehicle exhaust is drawn right into classroom areas.  Improving air quality in and around the school buildings will make students and teachers feel better and will help reduce one of the key triggers of asthma.

As part of the program, we will provide: 

·        Presentations on how air pollution affects children’s health and vehicle idling in particular at Parent Teacher Association meetings, staff meetings or other appropriate sessions (See Great Reasons Not to Idle and the Idling Quiz)

      Materials in Spanish:  Great Reasons Not to Idle (Buenas Razones)

·        “Idle  Free Zone” signs to post at delivery, school bus, and parent waiting areas (also available in Spanish)

·        Articles on air pollution, idling and asthma for your school newsletter

·        Fun giveaways to students, staff and parents (lanyards, stickers, etc.) with information about reducing air pollution

·        Information to post on your school website, and links to more information (check out additional resources by clicking here)

·        A fun and age appropriate curriculum unit about idling, air pollution, health, and economics suitable for a 4^th or 5^th grade math or science class.  The curriculum will be compact and designed to meet the Indiana academic standards for the appropriate grade level, and encourage students to be proactive about environmental stewardship.  We can provide the curriculum to you for your teachers to present or arrange for air pollution experts to present it 

●    School bus idle reduction policy adopted by the School Transportation Association of Indiana

●    Vehicle Window Cling with Idle Reduction Tips for Parents

·        Recognition of participating schools through Improving Kids’ Environment and the City of Indianapolis Knozone program websites and local media

    Schools can show their commitment to improving the health of their school environment by joining the program and pledging to take a variety of steps to educate and improve air quality on school grounds.  Check out the Smart Schools Don't Idle Commitment.  And see which Marion County Elementary Schools have signed up to be Smart Schools.

    Reducing the air pollution caused by unnecessary vehicle idling is an easy way to make the school environment healthier.  Eliminating idling is also a money-saver—every minute engines aren’t idling means less money spent on fuel.

    Contact Janet McCabe at mccabe@ikecoalition.org or 317-902-3610 or Lauren Stanisic at stanisic@ikecoalition.org for more information or if you are interested in participating in Smart Schools Don't Idle.

    View letters of support from Dr. Virginia Caine of the Marion County Health Department, City of Indianapolis DPW Director Kumar Menon, and Nancy Turner, President of the American Lung Association of Indiana.

    And check out the No Idling Flyer (page 1 and page 2) developed by a 6th grader at Fall Creek Valley Middle School!  She worked with her former elementary school to put No Idle signs in the parking lot and arranged a presentation on air pollution for the 3rd and 4th graders as her 6th grade service project.