Improving the learning atmosphere

Under the leadership of Director of Facilities Mike Sheehan, the district became one of only three national recipients, and the only one in the state, to win the Sustained Model of Excellence Award for indoor air quality from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — the highest award issued by the organization.
Having already been recognized by Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy in Washington, D.C. last year, the Baldwin Board of Education brought the award home to celebrate with the community at their Jan. 14 meeting.
The prestigious award was presented to the board by Paul Giardina, a 1967 alumnus of Baldwin High School, who went on to become the Chief of EPA and Indoor Air Branch. Giardina said that the air improvement program is not only important for the district's immediate atmosphere, but for the learning environment as well.
"Tonight, we are here for a celebration," said Giardina. "By winning the EPA award, the Baldwin school district has won the national championship."
In 1997, Sheehan, with the help of the district's health and safety committee, began suggesting different ways that the district could utilize green technologies and products, and developed the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program and handbook. Building on the success of that program, Sheehan's group created the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) program and handbook, which has been followed by school districts around the country. In 2000, Baldwin received the EPA award for Improved Air Quality. In conjunction with H2M, an engineering firm that has helped the district on many such projects, Baldwin went on to mandate environmentally-friendly paints, HEPA vacuums to remove dust, and stepped up their tree-planting and recycling programs.
At the Jan. 14 meeting, the school board surprised Sheehan with a small ceremony dedicated to him and the large hand he had in bringing the EPA award home to Baldwin. Ever modest, however, Sheehan refused to take sole responsibility for the efforts made in winning the award; and instead commended his staff, the school board, and students and teachers around the district who helped him each day.
"Obviously, it's not me alone that could do something like this," said Sheehan. "It's the district. When we need to do something, nobody
says no."
Local politicians, including Assemblyman Bob Barra, Town Councilman Anthony Santino, Councilman Dorothy Goosby and Legislator Joe Scannell were on hand to congratulate the Baldwin school district on their achievement.
"You can't get a good education unless your environment is good," said Scannell. "It really is a great celebration, and another historic achievement for the board."
Santino called it a wonderful day for Baldwin and a great day for Sheehan.
"The Baldwin School District has always been on the cutting edge," said Santino. "It's a tribute to everyone here on the staff, to Mike, the board, and the community," said Santino, "that comes together and does what it has to do to make sure the next generation of Baldwinites has a great experience here as well."
Board President Mary Jo O'Hagan was not about to let Sheehan off the hook without further embarrassing him, leading residents and staff in a standing ovation.
"It often takes the leadership of one individual's perseverance and dedication," said O'Hagan. "Today, green is a media buzz word, but Mike worked on this even before that. We know, you know, and now the nation knows, that Mike is a very special man."
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