By Rachel Kalina
A New York State law that took effect on Sept. 1 has led many districts to amend the cleaning products they use and how they use them in an attempt to minimize exposure of children and staff to harmful common chemicals in cleaning solutions. Schools are now required use environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products, which has been dubbed "green clean" among districts.
While this has meant an overhaul in cleaning systems for many schools on Long Island, Baldwin has barely been batting an eye -- the district already not only meets but exceeds most of the new regulations, as it has been "green cleaning" since about 2000.
"Back in 1998, we formed a committee with the Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency" said Michael Sheehan, facilities director at Baldwin and President of the Nassau County chapter of the School Buildings and Grounds Association (SBGA). The committee's purpose, he said, was to review how the district was cleaning its facilities.
The district looked at everything, from the kind of vacuums they were using to what chemicals were being sprayed and how entrance mats were cleaned. As a result, Baldwin created one of the first comprehensive "green" cleaning systems in the region.
"Being around kids," Sheehan said, "We thought there's got to be a better way to do things. Kids breathe faster than adults, their organs are growing. What an adult can handle, a kid can't. We just felt that kids shouldn't be exposed to a lot of things."
Sheehan said in his research to find a precedent school that had gone "green," he came across a district ironically called "Baldwinsville" in upstate New York, which was using environmentally friendly cleaning products like H2 Orange.
In 1999, Baldwin started using this product in its elementary schools, and when they saw how it was not only safe for kids but efficient in cleaning, they decided to use it in following years in the middle and high schools.
"What we like about this chemical is there's no petrochemicals in it," Sheehan said, explaining that the product is not oil-based or harmful to one's health. This complies with the new "green" law, which states that products used in schools must be water-based. Many of them contain natural extracts like citrus.
Other steps Baldwin has taken to provide its students and staff with a healthy environment involve the banning of pesticides on fields. Sheehan said the district cannot spray insecticides or pesticides outside for aesthetic reasons, and it has been 12 years since the schools have done so.
"We even take it a step further," Sheehan said of how the district has been responding to the "green" law. "With our floor finish, there's no heavy metals in it, which isn't part of this regulation. We just go above and beyond."
Patti Wood, founder and executive director of environmental and health advocacy group Grassroots Environmental Education since 2000, has been extremely impressed with the efforts of Sheehan and Baldwin in general.
"They're really out ahead of the pack," Wood said of how seriously Baldwin has been taking "green" clean initiatives, "and it's mostly due to Michael Sheehan and the administrators for recognizing his ability."
New York State has issued a list of recommended cleaning products approved for use in schools under the new law, which was passed in August. The list of about 350 products ensures approved chemicals do not contain mercury and they are non-toxic, with no known poisons or carcinogens.
The list only includes cleaners and doesn't yet list items like floor finishes, waxes or other specialty disinfectant products used in schools. Under the new law, schools are still allowed to keep their potentially toxic products until they are depleted before using the new "green" ones.
Wood said the criteria set by the new "green" clean laws is not as strict as what the Baldwin is doing, and "Baldwin is going further," exceeding requirements.
She said the ban of pesticides from being used on fields is an example of this, as it is a huge issue. Sheehan's expertise even resulted in his recent involvement in a symposium held at Adelphi University, "Are Schools Making Our Kids Sick?" which Wood's organization co-sponsored.
"He received recognition at this academic conference where he was singled out and discussed by two of the speakers," Wood said.
She also pointed out that in 2000, Baldwin was one out of five schools to receive an Indoor Air Quality Award from the EPA. Sheehan traveled to Washington, D.C. to represent Baldwin and obtain the award. At the time, "green" cleaning was not a mandate, but the district was leading the way as an example for others.
Wood said after the Adelphi symposium, other district representatives from Long Island approached Sheehan to ask for his advice on how to effectively go "green."
The Grassroots Environmental Education group has even used Baldwin as an example in two video documentaries, which they use as part of their mission to educate the public about environmental exposure and health problems.
"To have a facilities director actually take the initiative and green that school in every way he can is very unusual and admirable," Wood said, adding that it is usually parents or health teachers who bring such issues to the forefront. "He's made the changes because it was the right thing to do, and he involved parents, teachers and staff and walked them through it step by step."
Despite this praise, Sheehan insists his efforts would have been fruitless without the backing of the district and administrators.
"It's just the attitude of the district," Sheehan said, "I just happen to be the person who implements it. Obviously I can't do anything without the Board of Education or the superintendent. All of them have agreed that safety is the main concern with kids."
Only a handful of districts on Long Island are on par with Baldwin's level of "green" cleaning. These include the North Bellmore, Bellmore-Merrick, and Great Neck districts.
David Kincaid, the district consultant for Health and Safety in Great Neck, said in a press release that these schools use organic instead of chemical cleaners to improve the environment and childrens' health. He said it was easy enough to switch over to "green" cleaning products, and the district only spend about $3,000 more on these than on chemical cleaners.
"There's not much of a difference in the cost," Kincaid said. "Inflation in that period would have taken care of the cost. Plus, now we don't have to pay for the disposable cost for the unused chemical products at the end of the year."
He added that organic cleaners are just as efficient as chemical cleaners and most importantly, they improve safety conditions for students.
As the sixth state to pass a "green clean" law, New York is now among the ranks of Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington. The law is a result of the work of environmental activists, parents, health professionals and child advocates. According to the EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools initiative, 55 million people spend time daily in schools. Thus, the new law demands schools use products that "have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared to other products and services that serve the same purpose."
"We've been 'green' for a long time," said Cristina Schmohl, a spokesperson for the district. "We were one of the first districts to do this on our own."
Comments about this story? Baldwineditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 207.
