As the parent of an asthmatic child, Lisa P. Jackson can appreciate the work being done at Kunsberg School.
“When my son, at less than a year old, started showing signs, we were able to get him medical care. Here, they’re serving populations that can’t afford the kind of interventions that can save these children,” Jackson, administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said Monday.
“Otherwise, these would be children who would keep falling behind in school, keep underperforming and losing their confidence in being a productive member of our society — and then we all suffer.”
Jackson toured Kunsberg, on the campus of National Jewish Health in Denver, as part of a quick stop in Colorado.
She spent the first part of her morning in a panel discussion, moderated by former Gov. Bill Ritter, on the state’s “Clean Air Clean Jobs” legislation.
Later, President Barack Obama’s Cabinet member visited the school, which has about 80 students in grades K-8 who, because of health issues such as asthma, require medical assistance during the school day.
School administrators told Jackson about a number of its innovative programs. In one, students wore monitors over 24-hour periods to help track the impact of air pollution in their daily lives.
“We could assess their exposure and where it was,” said Erwin Gelfand, chairman of National Jewish’s pediatrics department.
“That’s important; there’s a stationary monitor downtown that tells what the pollution is, but that doesn’t tell what the child is breathing in what I call the ‘breathing zone.’ “
Gelfand said monitors revealed that low levels of pollution can impact kids. “We found that kids, particularly those with severe asthma, despite being on pretty adequate medication, are pretty susceptible to pollution effects. It tells us that pollution is driving exacerbations of asthma in pretty unique ways.”
Students at Kunsberg participate in physical education four days a week, in activities that include swimming and volleyball. That is one way to keep them from becoming victims of their health issues.
In turn, Jackson said, they also build confidence in themselves and their capabilities.
Jose Barron “flunked” first grade because his asthma kept him out of school so much. When the same issues threatened to disrupt fifth- grade — he spent almost a month in the hospital — someone suggested Kunsberg for Jose, who is now in eighth grade.
“It turned out to be a good decision,” said his mother, Laura Barron. “Ever since we came here, things have been good. Now he only misses one or two days a year. It’s just too bad he can’t go to high school here.”
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
