DUSD Sets Guidelines To Deal With Unhealthy Outdoor Air

DUBLIN, CA — The Dublin Unified School District has set new guidelines on student outdoor activities during when air quality is poor. The guidelines outline steps each school site should take during recess/lunch, physical education, athletics practice and sporting events based on air-quality levels.

In an Oct. 9 message to DUSD families, staff and the community, DUSD Superintendent Dave Marken wrote, "One of the most challenging issues faced by school districts in the recent past has been how to address air quality events resulting from wildfires. Due to the unprecedented nature and frequency of these fires, state and local governing bodies were not prepared with a set of guidelines and ultimately left the task of addressing the issue in the hands of local districts. This created frustration among students, staff, parents, and schools around the state.

Unfortunately, predictions are that wildfire activity is likely to increase in the coming years," Marken continued. "As a result, the Dublin Unified School District has created its own set of guidelines — one of the first districts in the state to do so."

The DUSD's new guidelines are based on recent recommendations from the California Department of Education, California Air Resources Board, California Air Pollution Control Officers Association, California School Board Association, Association of California School Administrators, and the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, according to Marken.

"In building our guidelines, we also consulted with the interim health officer at the Alameda County Department of Public Health, and a local allergy/asthma specialty group," he wrote.

To implement the guidelines, the district needs access to accurate data. It will use an EPA air quality sensor located in Livermore, but the district has also installed air quality sensors at Amador, Dougherty, and Dublin high schools, according to Marken.

When air quality is scheduled to reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range, the district will closely monitor the sensor network and email all schools with current air quality levels. School sites will be responsible for implementing air quality guidelines in the same way they are responsible for implementing inclement weather guidelines, according to Marken.

Air quality events can affect sensitive groups differently than others.

"Our staff is aware of individuals (students and staff) that are in a sensitive group and will make the appropriate adjustments to their activity levels," Marken wrote. "Sensitive groups include individuals with asthma or other heart/lung conditions. If your child is in a sensitive group and their school is not aware of the condition, please inform them as soon as possible."

If an air quality event has the potential to impact an athletic competition, the district will consult with the competing district and relevant guidelines available from governing bodies before making any decision on relocating or rescheduling the event, according to Marken.

Any maintenance and facilities district staffers working outdoors will be advised to reschedule activity or use N95 respirator masks when air-quality levels reach the unhealthy stage, according to Marken.

"N95 masks are not recommended for children. In fact, according to the interim health officer at the Alameda County Department of Public Health, there are no N95 equivalent masks approved for use by children in the United States," Marken wrote.

Regarding school site closures, the district will not consider this option until air quality reaches the “Very Unhealthy” range, Marken said. At that point, decisions will be made based on the expected duration of the event and the level of air pollution.

"We understand that not everyone will agree with the guidelines we have put in place," Marken wrote. "The reality is, it’s impossible to reach full consensus on this topic. It is better to have guidelines based on the recommendation from numerous state agencies than to have no guidelines at all."