| Learning is impacted by quality of facilities - Vote Yes on Issue 7 |
| Friday, October 24, 2003 10:42:11 AM - Middletown Ohio |
On November 4, 2003, local residents will be asked to decide on the future of public school facilities in the great city of Middletown. The school board has placed a bond issue on the ballot that will generate funds to renovate and rebuild all elementary schools. As the superintendent of Middletown City Schools, I am often asked whether new or renovated schools help improve student learning. My answer is always a resounding, “Yes they do!” Don’t just take my word on this issue; there is research evidence that clearly connects new and modern facilities to better learning.
A recent review of research by the United States Department of Education found:
• Students in school buildings in poor condition had achievement that was 6% below schools in fair condition and 11% below schools in excellent condition;
• Lower academic achievement was associated with specific building condition factors such as substandard science facilities, air conditioning, locker conditions, classroom furniture, and noisy external environments;
• The quality of air inside public school facilities may significantly affect students’ ability to concentrate.
The impact of air quality: The American Lung Association recently found that American children miss more than ten million school days each year because of asthma made worse by poor indoor air quality. The quality of air in a building is controlled by modern heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC). Effectively controlling air quality in a building helps control bacteria and mold counts. There is a positive link between airborne bacteria and mold and asthma in children. Given that asthma is among the leading causes of absenteeism in American schools, it is critically important that schools have modern HVAC systems to bring about less asthma, better school attendance and improved student learning.
The impact of lighting: Middletown school buildings rely heavily on artificial lighting, but studies have found that natural daylight fosters higher achievement. One such study found that students with the most natural classroom daylight progressed 20% faster in one year on math tests than those students who learned in environments that received the least amount of natural light.
The impact of noise: Research indicates that high levels of background noise (often caused from old and outdated heating systems or loud fans to cool hot rooms) adversely affect learning environments, particularly for young children, who require optimal conditions for hearing and comprehension.
My job as your superintendent is to remove learning barriers that might prevent a student from achieving at the highest levels. Students already come to school with many learning barriers you and I cannot control. In spite of these many obstacles, the Middletown staff does an outstanding job addressing these barriers and educating our children. Do new or renovated school facilities help improve learning? They absolutely do! Inferior and inadequate school facilities are barriers our children should not be forced to face day in and day out. The good news is that we as a community control whether these barriers remain or are removed. Our children rely on us to do the right thing. No one else will do it for them. New facilities will help allow our students to remain competitive and give them the quality education they deserve. I urge you to support issue 7 on November 4th.
Steve Price
Superintendent of Middletown Schools |
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