Dr. Stephanie Chalupka (Nursing) was the keynote speaker at the Healthy Schools Summit held in Pittsburgh. PA. The conference was sponsored by the Heinz Endowment and Women for a Healthy Environment.
Despite growing recognition of the importance of environmental health in schools, the national investment in public school facilities in the United States continues to fall short by $46 billion a year. Consequently, many schools are left underfunded and unable to make much-needed upgrades to deteriorating buildings. Millions of K–12 students in America spend several hours a day learning in schools that are more than 50 years old and in need of extensive repair and where children may be exposed to mold, poor ventilation, uncomfortable temperatures, inadequate lighting, and overcrowded, excessively noisy conditions. These adverse circumstances can disadvantage students who already struggle on a daily basis.
Chalupka urged school administrators to act on behalf of children and teachers, who deserve to develop, learn, and thrive in a healthy environment that optimizes their potential to succeed.
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