School of Education to host ‘Green Cleaning’ conference Dec. 9 on impact of new NYS environmental legislation on schools

School of Education to host ‘Green Cleaning’ conference Dec. 9 on impact of new NYS environmental legislation on schoolsNovember 29, 2005Patrick Farrellpmfarrel@syr.edu

The Syracuse University School of Education will host a day-long conference to examine the requirements and implications of new New York State legislation, effective September 2006, designed to protect students, teachers and school personnel from common toxic cleaning products. The conference, called “How to Protect Students: ‘Green Cleaning’ Schools-Environmentally Safe Schools,” will take place Dec. 9, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., at Drumlins Country Club.

According to Claire Barnett, executive director of the Healthy Schools Network, the new legislation will result in a “clean, green sweep, eliminating hundreds of outdated toxic products from our schools.” Barnett adds that the legislation also will reduce the risk of poisonous chemical spills, improve indoor air quality and promote environmental businesses.

The one-day conference is for school personnel, parents and community members who want to learn how this new legislation will help promote healthier schools by requiring the use of healthy and “green” products. The conference also will cover a range of compliance-related topics in anticipation of the new environmental requirements, including how to reduce the risk of chemical exposure for all cleaning functions, understanding the terms “environmentally-preferable” and “green cleaning,” and how to transition from conventional petrochemical cleaning to bio-based cleaning.

The keynote presentation, “Connecting the Dots: Indoor Environmental Quality and Student Performance,” will be given by Edward A. Bogucz, executive director of the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (CoE).

The event is co-sponsored by the Study Council at the SU School of Education, the Central New York School Boards Association, the SU School of Social Work, the CoE, the Family Issues Network and the SU College of Law’s Family Law and Social Policy Center.

The conference is open to the public and should be of particular interest to superintendents, school business officials, building and grounds superintendents, school health and safety administrators, school board members and school policy decision makers. For details about registration, call (315) 443-4696 or visithttp://soeweb.syr.edu/cego/conferences.htm.