Abstract:

Defined by indoor air pollution, decaying infrastructure, and delayed maintenance, sick schools can impact students’ academic achievements, developmental growth, and overall well-being. In recent years, the Environmental Protection Agency has consistently ranked indoor air pollution as a top five environmental risk to public health (Environmental Protection Agency, 2024c). Decaying infrastructure and delayed maintenance are a direct byproduct of underfunded and under-resourced school districts. The average American child spends roughly 180 days in school per year, and by the time they finish 8th grade, they will have spent 8,884 hours within school walls (OECD, 2019). With such a significant portion of their time spent in these environments, it is crucial to study the physical conditions of schools and ensure they provide a healthy, supportive atmosphere for students’ well-being and development. Rural counties in eastern North Carolina that are struggling with poverty, poor health outcomes, and migration loss have few resources to fix their aging schools. This paper will critically analyze the pressing public health challenges posed by sick schools and their impact on student health and performance while also examining the conditions of schools in several rural counties in eastern North Carolina.

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About the Author

Jeanne Milliken Bonds is a Professor of the Practice, Impact Investment and Sustainable Finance in the Kenan-Flagler Business School and the Department of Public Policy at UNC-Chapel Hill.

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