ABOUT US
Healthy School Buildings is a national initiative dedicated to transforming public school facilities into safe, clean, and welcoming spaces. Our work combines advocacy, data-driven analysis, and direct community support to drive sustainable change.
We work closely with educational sector labor unions, national & community organizations & advocates, elected officials, leading policy & trade organizations, elected officials, facility managers, & environmental health experts to identify and improve school facility issues.
We are a non-profit organization working to raise public stakeholder awareness, understanding and knowledge about dangerous conditions and to empower core communities with tools and information needed to advocate for buildings that are free of hazards like asbestos, lead, mold, and poor air quality.
What we do
MISSION
To ensure every child has access to a safe, healthy, and inspiring learning environment.
VISION
A future where every school building meets high standards of safety, cleanliness, and functionality.
CORE VALUES
Advocacy, transparency, equity, and community empowerment.
Our Principles
- Every child, regardless of where they live or what they look like, is entitled to learn in a facility that is free from hazards and threats to their health.
- Students, parents, educators, community organizations are core stakeholders who are entitled to participate–in real, meaningful, substantive, and resourced ways–in the decision-making process about schools, including facility issues.
- School districts are not private entities. Public schools, and the information about them, belong to the public.
- Policy-makers must move to adopt standards for school facilities to ensure that schools are required to make the necessary changes to attain adequacy.
- Decision makers must allocate the necessary funding for all educational needs, including facility conditions.
Our Services
- Professional, independent, site visits in response to staff reports and complaints about inadequate, dangerous and unsafe
- Inspection and assessment services
- Expert guidance on standards for school conditions
- Tools and strategies for community engagement and advocacy
Our Work
From evaluating hazardous school conditions to advocating for systemic policy changes, we provide the tools, expertise, and support needed to make our schools healthier for everyone.
- Independent Site Assessments to assess systems and conditions such as mold, asbestos, and inadequate ventilation that pose potential issues for occupants; providing detailed reports that stakeholders can use to advocate for necessary repairs and improvements.
- Data Review and Analysis we evaluate data on school conditions, providing guidance on the adequacy and availability of data used to make decisions, and help stakeholders develop approaches to obtain critical data that can help prioritize interventions and planning, building the case for systemic improvements.
- Develop tools for monitoring and assessing school conditions, documenting issues and analyzing data to help community leaders and stakeholders effectively engage in school district facilities planning.
- Advocacy and Policy Support: We work with policymakers, unions, and community leaders to push for better standards and funding for school facilities. Our team provides expert guidance on policy development and implementation.
- Work with decision-makers to provide guidance on strategies to improve standards, more effectively use data, and better engage stakeholders to increase public trust and support.
Community Engagement: Empowering parents, teachers, and students is at the heart of what we do. Through workshops, resources, and direct support, we help communities take actionable steps toward healthier schools.
Want to get in touch about working with us?
LEADERSHIP
Jerry Roseman, MSc, IH: Jerry Roseman has worked as a public health, environmental science, and occupational health and safety professional for more than years. He is a leading national expert on the issue of adequate building conditions and school facilities. Jerry has collaborated with unions, elected officials, journalists, school district facility managers, and community organizations to address issues such as asbestos, lead, mold, and poor air quality in schools. As the creator of the Healthy Schools Tracker App, Jerry has empowered stakeholders to document and address hazardous conditions. He also serves as the Acting Director of Environmental Science and Occupational Safety & Health for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Union and Health & Welfare Fund.
Our team includes environmental scientists, educators, public health experts, and community advocates, each bringing decades of experience to our mission of healthier schools.