MUSD ‘flags’ air-quality issues

The Maricopa Unified School District is raising a red flag…in addition to green, yellow, orange and other colored flags, all in the name of air quality.

The district has entered into a program through the Arizona Department Environmental Quality Division in which different colored flags are raised each day to designate the quality of the air.

“The school flag program is a simple way to alert school officials and students to the day’s air-quality conditions so that when the air is bad, preventive measures can be taken,” said Marilyn Wyant, the district’s director of health services.

These flags, which were provided free to the district, are typically placed at the front entrance of the school to not only alert students to the day’s air quality, but other members of the community. “Everyone needs to be aware of the air quality,” Wyant said.

To educate school officials about air quality, Pinal County Department of Environmental Quality sent out their air-quality expert, Scott DiBiase. “He was great. We learned a lot about air quality and he sends us updates on air quality every morning so we know what flag to fly,” Wyant said.

The five color-coded flags and their designation are: GREEN-good air quality; YELLOW-moderate air quality; ORANGE-unhealthy for sensitive people; RED-unhealthy; and PURPLE-very unhealthy.

For more information on air quality, visit www.airnow.gov.