Operations

Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral used in construction materials largely as a fireproofing or insulating agent. Asbestos-containing materials were used in nearly every public and commercial building constructed in the U.S. before the 1980s. The Environmental Protection Agency declared asbestos fibers a health hazard in the late 1980s and banned most asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos that is contained in-place does not pose a health risk. Only when it is disturbed and fibers become airborne (such as during removal or construction) does it become a health hazard.

The EPA requires school districts to maintain an Asbestos Management Plan, which includes a schedule of inspections conducted by accredited asbestos inspectors. The district currently contracts with the Institute for Environmental Assessment (IEA) for this work. IEA performs an in-depth inspection of each building every three years, which is followed by surveillance inspections of each site every six months to identify and record any changes in the condition of the materials. These inspections provide the district with information on the location of asbestos-containing materials. Prior to any type of facility improvement project, the EPA and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) require building owners to “thoroughly inspect the affected facility or part of the facility where demolition or renovation will occur for the presence of asbestos.” So another complete inspection is conducted prior to construction.

An abatement contractor licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health conducts the removal of asbestos prior to construction. Prior to re-occupancy, clearance air sampling is conduction in the work area. Those air samples must meet state and federal clearance requirements before the area may be re-occupied.

For more information, contact Guttu Meleka at gmeleka@bccs286.org.

Good quality indoor air contributes to a favorable learning environment for students, productivity for teachers and staff, and a sense of comfort, health and well-being for all school occupants.

Brooklyn Center Community Schools has an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Plan. The management plan outlines specific policies and procedures that will be used in the district to address indoor air quality issues. IEA, the district’s health and safety consultant, completes annual IAQ walkthroughs and ventilation assessments within the school to ensure proper air quality.

For more information, contact Guttu Meleka at gmeleka@bccs286.org.

Brooklyn Center Community Schools uses a licensed, professional pest control service firm for the prevention and control of rodents, insects and other pests in and around the district’s buildings.

Pests can sting, bite, cause contamination, damage property and spread disease; therefore, we must prevent their presence and control them as necessary. The district or outside contractors may also apply herbicides on district properties, as deemed necessary.

The long-term health effects on children from the application of such pesticides may not be fully understood.  All pest control materials are chosen and applied according to labeling directions per federal law.

To limit the potential pesticide exposure, the district follows safety regulations to ensure pesticides are applied properly. All pesticide products, which are used in and around school buildings, are required to be registered with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, school employees and certified and licensed applicators are required by state and federal law to comply with all requirements of the pesticide label, including building sites, application rates, re-entry intervals, posting, use of personal protective equipment, use restrictions, and disposal on the product label. An estimated schedule of pesticide applications is available for review or copying within the District Office.

If you would like to be notified prior to an application outside of estimated times, (excluding emergency applications) not addressed in the above text, please email Guttu Meleka.   For more information, contact Guttu Meleka at gmeleka@bccs286.org. 

Brooklyn Center Community Schools is committed to providing a safe working and learning environment for employees and students. We have developed a Lead-in-Water Management Plan to reduce the potential for exposure to lead in drinking water and to comply with Minnesota Statute 121A.335, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). This plan will also endeavor to comply with the recommendations of the Minnesota Department of Health’s “Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: A Technical Guidance for Minnesota’s School and Child Care Facilities” recommendations and be inclusive of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's "Ensuring Drinking Water Quality in Schools During and After Extended Closures" fact sheet and the United States Environmental Protection Agency's "3Ts Toolkit for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities" manual.

Minnesota Statute 121A.335 requires public school buildings serving pre-kindergarten through grade 12 to test for lead in potable water sources (water for consumption) every 5 years.  We test all district buildings every five years. The previous testing cycles included the 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 school years. We will test again during the 2026-2027 school year.

In the event a test reveals the presence of lead at or above five parts per billion, remediation efforts will be made. Depending upon the exact fixture location and type, remediation efforts could involve removing the fixture from service, adding signage indicating the fixture is not to be used for drinking water, removal of the existing fixture and replacement with filtered fixture, etc.

Anyone interested in discussing the district Lead in Drinking Water program or test results should contact Guttu Meleka at gmeleka@bccs286.org.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil, rocks, underground water supplies, and in the ambient air. Radon gas typically moves up through the ground into the air in buildings through subsurface wall and/or floor cracks, floor drains, and construction joints and pipes.

The EPA and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) advise schools to test for radon after any renovation to the building or HVAC system, or periodically, such as every five years and to reduce levels to below 4 picoCuries per Liter (pCi/L).

Brooklyn Center Community Schools conducts air sampling for the presence of radon under those recommendations. For results or additional information please contact : Guttu Meleka at gmeleka@bccs.org.