TCEQ AND TEXAS PTA PARTNER TO CLEAN UP THE AIR

Ok, this just in from Texas PTA. I would officially put this as “good stuff.” Anything that says “work together,” or distribute funding” and “protect school children.” Good stuff, you bet! This sounds great too because my asthma is getting worse.

Reducing Particulate Matter Emissions from School Buses

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Parent Teacher Association announced today that they will work together to distribute funding to clean the air and protect school children from harmful particulate matter by retrofitting school buses. The funding will come from a portion of penalties assessed by the commission that are used to support Supplemental Environmental Projects.

“I am delighted that the PTA is joining us to administer funds to clean up school bus fleets in Texas,” said TCEQ Commissioner Larry R. Soward.” Working with such a strong partner gives each of our organizations a greater positive impact on the air quality of the state and the health of our school children.”

Through SEP funding, Texas school districts can install pollution control devices on diesel school buses. These devices reduce particulate matter emissions that can aggravate respiratory problems, asthma and allergies in children who ride the buses. Funding may also be available to replace buses model year 1991 or older with 2007 or newer models resulting in a reduction in particulate matter emissions of up to 90 percent or more.

“Drivers, students, passengers and teachers are all subject to harmful diesel exhaust emissions from school buses on our roadways,” said Kyle Ward, Texas PTA executive director. “We look forward to distributing funds to school districts to reduce these problems through the use of cleaner technology.”

Individual projects are funded based on qualifying enforcement actions taken by the commission. The amount of funding the PTA can receive is up to a maximum of $5 million per year, and the number of locations and projects may vary.

For information on Texas PTA, contact Stacy Glover-512-476-6769, or visit

http://www.txpta.org/legis-res-pos.html.

All TCEQ news releases are available at http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/

www.tceq.state.tx.us/.

Are Hispanics underrepresented in North Forest?

The Chron says today, last year, Hispanic students made up nearly 30 percent of the district overall, but that there are no Hispanics on the board. Well, if North Forest is not in the news, the Chron will in fact put them there. Why? I’m not sure. This is a weird article, IMHO. I understand what they are saying, but isn’t the board voted in? Don’t the people of the district have that option to vote? I’m all for representation, for what ever you are talking about. But, why this, why now? I do have an Hispanic friend/colleague that I worked with at North Forest ISD, who often spoke about running for the board. And I sure do plan on calling him and asking him if he still plans on running. This seems like a good opportunity. More on the story here.