February 25, 1998
(Education)

Roger Grimes, Minister of Education, has announced the beginning of a comprehensive air quality testing program in schools throughout the province. Mr. Grimes said: "During the last few months, school boards and parents have expressed concern regarding air quality in schools. In response to this public concern, government has decided to conduct comprehensive air quality tests in schools."

The minister indicated that all school boards have provided the Department of Education with a list of schools they want tested, in priority order. Mr. Grimes explained that the testing will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will include approximately 150 schools and will commence during the last week in February and conclude by April 9. The second phase will commence immediately after the Easter break and conclude by the end of May.

Mr. Grimes explained that before the testing begins in a school, a certified industrial hygienist and the technician who will perform the testing will meet with the school council and the staff of the school to discuss the condition of the school and any problems they have experienced which might be related to air quality.All testing will be conducted in accordance with Terms of Reference developed by the Department of Education in consultation with the

Department of Works Services and Transportation, and the Department of Environment and Labour. The following items will be included in the testing at each school:

- Carbon dioxide levels
- Relative Humidity
- Temperature
- Bioaerosols (Microbial samples)

Additional tests may be performed in some schools if they are recommended by the industrial hygienist.Mr. Grimes said: "Government is committed to ensuring that all students in the province attend school in an environment that is free of health hazards. If these tests show that the air quality in any school poses a threat to the health of the students, we will undertake whatever remediation measures are necessary to remove the risk to the health of the students."

The minister stated that remediation measures to remove health hazards will begin as quickly as possible after the testing is complete and the results have been analyzed.Mr. Grimes also announced that for the first phase of the testing, government has engaged the services of the following consultant firms:

Jacques Whitford Environment Ltd.
ADI Nolan Davis
Atlantic Safety Centre
EnviroTech
Pinchen LeBlanc Environmental Ltd.
Rogers Enterprises Ltd.

A list of the schools to be tested will be forwarded to school boards today. Testing of these schools should begin within a week and will be completed by April 9.

Contact: Glenn Bruce, (709) 729-1377.