Built at the heart of our communities, public schools are home to history and memories for generation after generation. Walk down a hallway and you’ll see that heritage on display, whether it’s yearbook photos, sports championship plaques, or tributes to notable alumni.
However, schools can have another kind of history and legacy that’s much less conducive to a positive learning environment: old building facilities. And while schools don’t need to be freshly constructed and top of the line to do what they need to do—educate students in a safe, clean environment—older schools tend to house more toxic conditions than newer ones.
We may have a general sense that older facilities have some sort of issues. But what exactly is going on under the hood in these older buildings—and how bad is it really? Let’s take a look at three contributing factors.
Outdated Building Materials
Aging infrastructure in schools often means that buildings were constructed using materials that are now known to be hazardous. For instance, lead-based paint and asbestos were commonly used in the past but have since been recognized as significant health risks. As these materials deteriorate over time, they can release toxic particles into the air, posing serious health hazards to students, teachers, and staff. Inhalation or ingestion of lead or asbestos particles can lead to severe health issues, including developmental delays, respiratory problems, and even cancer.
Under our ABCs (adequate building conditions) rubric, schools should contain none of these dangerous materials, or at the very least be actively working to mitigate and remediate those that are present, while isolating those areas from student use until they are cleared to be safely used.
Inadequate Ventilation and Air Quality
Another consequence of aging infrastructure is the deterioration of ventilation systems and poor air quality within school buildings. Proper ventilation is crucial for maintaining a healthy indoor environment.
This is about more than just keeping classrooms warm or cool enough in extreme weather—although that’s a major part of it. Unfortunately, older schools may have outdated HVAC systems that struggle to effectively circulate clean air. This can result in stagnant air, high levels of humidity, and the accumulation of mold and other allergens. Exposure to mold spores and poor air quality can trigger respiratory problems, allergies, and asthma, impacting both student health and academic performance.
The ABCs require that HVAC systems are maintained regularly enough that they are not worked to the point of failure, and do not harbor these ticking time bombs of stagnant air.
Plumbing and Water Contamination
Finally, aging plumbing systems in schools can also contribute to toxic conditions. Over time, pipes can corrode, leading to leaks, water discoloration, and even unsafe drinking water if contaminants are allowed to seep in. Even if contamination is not an issue, “finicky” plumbing setups can lead to bathrooms being shut down for repairs—sometimes indefinitely—and students not having sufficient access to a toilet or sink during their school day.
A school that meets ABCs has contaminant-free drinking water readily available for its students and staff, and has at least X functioning bathrooms (toilets and sinks with warm water for handwashing) per Y students.
So…Out with the Old?
Meeting ABCs in older school facilities does not mean an extensive (or expensive) overhaul. In the short term, it means repairing those crucial systems that are not presently functional and remediating any environmental toxins that are present. In the longer term, it means having a plan to “see the future” and plan (and invest!) ahead of time for systems that wear down over time—as all systems do.
We don’t need to raze our older school buildings any more than we need to do away with the memories made there. We simply need to take care of them, so that many more generations of students can walk the hallways safely and happily.