High school first in state to sign up for EPA air quality program
There’s a new flag flying high at Mineola High School. The school is the first in the state to sign up for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s School Flags programs, which provides information to the community at large about air pollution.
At a pre-Earth Day ceremony held at the flag pole in front of the school, students, faculty, administration and EPA officials gathered to learn more about the flag program and raise the first flag, which will fly each day as a visible sign as to the quality of the air that day. 
Through their participation in the program, Mineola students will track air pollution at the EPA website www.airnow.gov and get local information about air quality. Depending on the air pollution level, they will raise the corresponding flag, which will hang on a flag pole outside the school. A green flag is good; yellow is moderate. Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups; red is unhealthy (particularly for people with asthma) and purple is very unhealthy (that would qualify as a regional air emergency, which has never occurred on Long Island). Monitoring the air quality levels is especially important for students who have asthma, said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck, a concern that is particularly bad in the summer months.
“One in 10 students have asthma. It’s the leading cause of absenteeism of children in New York schools,” said Enck. “This is terrific that Mineola is stepping up being a leader.”
Environmental club advisor Sue Kennedy first learned about the project after being contacted by Jennifer May-Reddy, EPA special projects coordinator and Mineola High School alum. Kennedy thought this type of project would be a great opportunity not only for her club, but for the AP environmental science and life skills classes as well.
“I did a little research and thought it was perfect,” said Kennedy. “It’s going to help with community awareness and education for our air quality control which is an important part of our daily lives.”
The students involved in the project say they’re excited to be working alongside their peers on tracking the air quality and putting up the flag each morning. The flags also serve as a reminder as to the effect people have on air quality.
“I don’t think that many people know about air quality and this is a great opportunity for students to learn something new,” said environmental club member Marissa Karasz. “Now that they see the flags, they’ll ask what it is and think about how their choices affect air quality.”
