TPCHD hosted a meeting for public and private schools in Pierce County on Thursday, November 21. 2024. . Below is a summary of the meeting.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and School Safety Programs
- New Leadership: Kara Zeigler is the new IAQ Program Supervisor, joining Scott Reynolds and Ali Boris at the WA State DOH School Environmental Health, Safety, and Indoor Air Quality program since Nancy Bernard’s retirement. Contact the team at schoolehs@doh.wa.gov or indoorairquality@doh.wa.gov with school-related queries.
- View the School Fall Workshops: The recordings from workshops held in Spokane and Renton are available on the School Environmental Health & Safety website.
- School Rule Revision: Andrew Kamali, with the State Board of Health, shared updates on the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) rule revisions. An informal comment period is set to open in mid-December and will last six weeks. To participate, sign up for email updates and view TAC meetings here.
DOH Health & Safety Guidance
Lori Karnes provided a walk through the updated K-12 Health & Safety Guide. Also noteworthy on the DOH website, access to the Chemical Safety List for schools.
Infectious Disease & Emergency Preparedness
TPCHD Nurse Kate Cranfield highlighted the importance of DOH’s Infectious Disease Control Guide.
Epinephrine Auto-Injectors: Schools are encouraged to review the DOH’s Standing Order for Epi-Pens, which now includes Neffy nasal epinephrine. Details can be found here.
Playground Safety in Winter
Stephanie Chou shared reminders for managing playground surfacing during colder months. Frozen ground significantly impacts the hardness of loose fill materials, which could lead to increased injury risks and school liability during a fall. Schools always retain the option to close playgrounds for safety concerns during extreme weather.
Fee Schedule Adjustments
Christine Sherman announced that the 2025 fee schedule will be presented to the TPCHD board on December 4, proposing a 6% fee increase average across the board.
