Grant to help improve air quality at Kingston, Midtown

The American Association of School Administrators recently awarded a $1,000 grant to Roane County Schools to target two schools with several asthmatic students and take steps to improve air quality in those schools.

The anticipated outcome is to reduce absenteeism for asthmatics.

Midtown and Kingston Elementary schools volunteered to be the grant recipients.  

Educational materials about asthma triggers and safeguards were prepared and distributed to parents, students and staff.

The Asthma, Allergy and Sinus Center of Knoxville, through efforts of Libby Orr, its marketing outreach coordinator, did a staff presentation at each school.

The center also arranged pulmonary function test screenings for fourth-grade students and free allergy panels for staff members at each of the participating schools.

Midtown Elementary students and staff received their PFT screens and allergy panels on Nov. 30.   

Any Midtown fourth-grade student who returned the signed permission form mailed earlier in the month received the PFT screen.  More than 30 students were tested for signs of pre-asthmatic conditions or breathing issues.  

Nurse Cindy Mullen managed the PFT screenings, and Dr. Karthnik Krishnan reviewed and shared the results with Midtown’s school nurse.  

Parents will be notified if any conditions warrant further evaluation.  

Interested staff members at Midtown received allergy panels testing six common allergens, with the results being reviewed with Krishnan.

By creating a heightened awareness of asthmatic triggers and safeguards, as well as steps to improve air quality in the schools, both the families and the schools can work together to create and maintain a healthy environment for living and learning.  

School officials said they appreciate The Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center for their generosity and care for students and staff members.

PFT screenings and allergy panels are planned for Kingston Elementary on Jan. 11 and 13.  

Parents of Kingston Elementary fourth-graders are advised to be looking for the permission form in the mail in early January.

Contact Patti Wells, school health coordinator, at pawells@roaneschools.com or 882-3700, Ext. 1910, for more information.