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High school students from across Westchester County gathered on March 2nd, 2005 in front of the County Michaelian Office Building to introduce SLAP NOW! (Students for Less Air Pollution NOW!). This initiative is sponsored by members of the Westchester Environmental Student Council (WESC), a program of the umbrella environmental group the Federated Conservationists of Westchester County (FCWC).

SLAP NOW! will begin in at least six Westchester school districts (Scarsdale, Mamaroneck, Katonah-Lewisboro, Hastings-on-Hudson and Harrison). Students will organize meetings with school officials to advocate for formal policies to prevent needless idling and to ensure that school buses are being modernized and eventually converted to using ultra low sulfur diesel fuel.

Getting Started

"SLAP NOW! Policy Goals for School Districts "

Our Goals

Seven Steps to Start Your Campaign

Educational Background for Community in General

a) FAQ on Idling Busses
b) Excerpt from the Healthy Air Action Plan for Westchester: Jan. 2005
c) See the report “Diesel and Health in America: The Lingering Threat”: Feb 05 www.alanys.org
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Materials Specifically for School Officials

a) Memorandum of Understanding between the EPA and the NY Assoc. for Pupil Transportation
b) Port Washington’s Anti-Idling Policy
c) Bethlehem Central School District’s (Albany, NY Area) Rationale for “No Idling Policy”
d) Bethelem Central School District's Idling School Bus Initiative (MS Word Document)

Campaign Background and Materials for Press

Student Papers

Press Release

The program committee of SLAP NOW! gratefully acknowledges the information and suggestions shared by organizers who partnered with their school officials and members of their communities, to institute no idling policies in the Port Washington and Bethlehem Central School Districts of New York State. Adiel Gavish provided technical assistance for our campaign announcement.

Program Committee:
Alex Gertner, Scarsdale High School: agertner@optonline.net
Chiaki Kurihara, Mamaroneck High School: ckurihara09@aol.com
Katie Walter, John Jay High School: tictac233@aol.com
Dave Weinreb, Harrison High School: LifeisGood1311@aol.com
Anna Pycior, Hastings-on-Hudson High School: boxerhoward@yahoo.com
Heather Baker-Sullivan, WESC Coordinator and Student Advisor: riverliffey@earthlink.net