Health and Safety

Edina Public Schools uses a licensed, professional pest control service firm for the prevention and control of rodents, insects and other pests in and around the district’s buildings. Their program consists of:

• Inspection and monitoring to determine if pests are present and whether any treatment is needed;
• Recommendations for maintenance and sanitation to eliminate pests without need for pest control materials;
• Utilization of non-chemical measures such as traps, caulking and screening; and
• Application of EPA-registered pest control materials when needed.

The long-term health effects on children from the application of pest control materials may not be fully understood. All pest control materials are chosen and applied according to label directions per Federal law.

An estimated schedule of pest control inspections and possible lawn treatments are available for review. Parents of students may submit a request to receive prior notification of any application by calling the school principal or the Buildings and Grounds Department at (952) 848-3999. Safety Data Sheets for all pesticides and herbicides utilized are available for review by calling the Buildings and Grounds Department.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral used in construction materials largely as a fireproofing or insulating agent. Asbestos-containing materials were used in nearly every public and commercial building constructed in the U.S. before the 1980s. The Environmental Protection Agency declared asbestos fibers a health hazard in the late 1980s and banned most asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos that is contained in-place does not pose a health risk. Only when it is disturbed and fibers become airborne (such as during removal or construction) does it become a health hazard.

The EPA requires school districts to maintain an Asbestos Management Plan, which includes a schedule of inspections conducted by accredited asbestos inspectors. The district currently contracts with the Institute for Environmental Assessment (IEA)for this work. IEA performs an in-depth inspection of each building every three years, which is followed by surveillance inspections of each site every six months to identify and record any changes in the condition of the materials. These inspections provide the district with information on the location of asbestos-containing materials. Prior to any type of facility improvement project, the EPA and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) require building owners to “thoroughly inspect the affected facility or part of the facility where demolition or renovation will occur for the presence of asbestos.” So another complete inspection is conducted prior to construction.

An abatement contractor licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health conducts the removal of asbestos prior to construction. Prior to re-occupancy, clearance air sampling is conduction in the work area. Those air samples must meet state and federal clearance requirements before the area may be re-occupied.

2024-25 scheduled asbestos abatement

• Periodic surveillance
• Abatement activities at Edina High School

Edina Public Schools has historically conducted, and continues to conduct, Lead in Drinking Water testing per the Minnesota Department of Health’s “Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: A Technical Guidance for Minnesota’s Schools” recommendations and Minnesota Statute 121A.335 requirements. Anyone interested in discussing the district Lead in Drinking Water program or results may contact the district’s Buildings and Grounds Department for access to documentation. Or they may access them here:

• 2018-2019 Report
• 2019-2020 Report
• 2020-2021 Report - Edina High School
• 2021-2022 Report - Early Childhood Center and Valley View
• 2022-2023 Initial Testing - Cornelia and Transportation
• 2022-2023 Remediation - Cornelia
• 2023-2024 Testing - Concord, Highlands, South View
• 2023-2024 Districtwide Resampling

To help improve our school environment and comply with requirements established by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Edina Public Schools has developed and implemented an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan that addresses indoor air quality issues throughout the district. Walkthroughs and inspections of district buildings are performed annually to detect current problems and help prevent future problems from occurring.

G-max (also known as impact)  testing measures the surface hardness of an activity field. The measurement is taken by dropping a 20 lb. weight from a 24-inch height onto the playing surface. The weight contains an accelerometer that measures how fast the missile stops once it hits the surface. The maximum acceleration magnitude recorded is the G-max. Three drops are performed at each of a minimum of 10 test locations per field. The G-max for the location is the average of the second and third drops.

The State of Minnesota does not require G-max testing. However, following construction and renovation of numerous synthetic activity fields in 2017, Edina Public Schools established a protocol to G-max test all synthetic turf fields each spring. Testing is done by the Institute for Environmental Assessment (IEA), an independent, third-party organization based in Minnesota, using trained staff and certified equipment to provide EPS with annual updates on the condition of the fields. IEA also measures the infill level at each of the drop sites in order to further enhance field safety and consistency.

ASTM International has set a maximum threshold of 200 G-max for every test point, however EPS subscribes to taking corrective actions at a threshold of 150-165 G-max. A G-max test score that exceeds 150 results in field corrections that may include dragging the field, adding infill or other work. Regardless of G-max score, all EPS fields receive routine field maintenance to sustain the safety and playability of the fields over time and reduce the need for corrective actions.