People spend 90% of their time indoors. Indoor air problems can be subtle and do not always produce easily recognized impacts on health, well-being, or the physical plant. For this and the reasons noted above, air quality in schools is of particular concern - proper maintenance of indoor air is more than a "quality" issue, it encompasses safety and stewardship of our investment in the students, staff, and facilities.

Whether students are participating in indoor or outdoor school activities, respiratory health should always be considered, and the impact that air quality has on students with asthma is always a concern. However, even students that are not affected by asthma can be affected by certain sources of air pollution that are associated with schools. Diesel exhaust from idling school buses can accumulate on and around the bus and pose a health risk, particularly to children. When buses idle in the school yard, the exhaust can pollute the air inside the school building and pose a health risk to children throughout the day