LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim April 24, 2012, as Healthy Schools Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
importance of promoting healthy indoor school environments; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 24, 2012, as Healthy Schools Day in
the State of New York, in conjunction with National Healthy Schools Day;
and
WHEREAS, National Healthy Schools Day observances in communities
nationwide highlight the impact of school facilities and the school
environment on child health, development and academic achievement; and
WHEREAS, A healthy learning environment heightens student attendance
and student performance; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York is dedicated to the health and well-be-
ing of all children; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Education, the Department of Health and
other State agencies promote healthy schools' policies in cooperation
with school officials and community partners; and
WHEREAS, Schools built between 1950 and 1978 have been found to have
risks of high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, and the poor
physical condition of school facilities is a reality that too many
school districts are facing and unfortunately intensified by the
unprecedented fiscal crisis affecting our State and Nation today; and
WHEREAS, Indoor air quality can also affect attendance, concentration
and performance by both children and teachers, who normally spend
between 30 to 50 hours each week in school buildings; and
WHEREAS, A goal of National Healthy Schools Day is to raise awareness
regarding air quality in our schools and to encourage schools to improve
air quality by providing better ventilation, maintenance and cleaning of
heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and by using nontoxic
cleaning products; and
WHEREAS, In light of children's susceptibility to environmental
dangers, New York State has adopted environmental reform policies
embodied in a five-point, child-centered set of "Guiding Principles for
School Environmental Quality"; Healthy Schools Network has since worked
to secure new laws, funding, and regulations to promote healthier school
environments, including the measures for occupant health in schools
under renovation, notice of pesticide use, bans on arsenic and elemental
mercury, and an executive order on "green" cleaning products that has
been extended to all public and private schools state-wide; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 24, 2012, as
Healthy Schools Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.