We protect our children and assume they are safe from dangers while in the care of our public schools. But how safe is the land our schools are built on? In Texas, there are no laws to prevent school sites from being built on or near sources of environmental pollution. Our goal is to pass legislation that will prevent schools and playgrounds from being sited on hazardous and toxic chemicals. We believe that tax dollars should be used responsibly to purchase uncontaminated property for the use of elementary, middle and high schools. Approximately 30 states have already adopted some form of school-siting laws to protect children and teachers.
Clean Schools Initiative wants healthy schools for all children. We are a citizen's group founded by concerned parents, organized as a result of our school district’s decision to re-purpose a former chemical research laboratory to an elementary school. For our story, go to A Community Issue.
We are reaching out and working with advocates, experts and organizations to obtain our goal here in Texas. The Center for Health, Environment & Justice is an organization dedicated to assisting communities facing environmental health risks. One of their campaigns, Child Proofing our Communities, protects children from toxic exposures in the places where they play, pray, learn and grow. The campaign works on safe school siting issues and provides a comprehensive review of why contaminated schools are a national problem, including case studies, children’s special vulnerability to risk, and ways you can fight a contaminated school. The campaign educates and brings together community leaders to collaborate on efforts preventing harm in their communities.