VERMONT – Auditor Douglas R. (Doug) Hoffer released information on February 19, about research his department has done on radon testing in schools. “Vermont schools should be healthy and safe environments in which to learn and work,” he said.
The Vermont Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law a bill which required all public and approved independent schools to test for radon. In 2022 a second bill extended the testing deadline to June 30, 2025.
Hoffer reported, “The radon testing legislation did not include a reporting requirement. As a result, the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) and the Agency of Education do not have a comprehensive list of which schools complied with the requirement or the testing results. In order to determine how this public health initiative rolled out, I asked my staff to look into it.”
That research discovered 206 (69%) public schools had completed radon testing by June 30, 2025, as required.
By January 31, 12 more schools had completed the testing, raising those tested to 73%.
Twenty schools had radon levels at or above the EPA recommended action level of 4.0 pCi/L.
In this area, all Orleans South Supervisory Union (OSSU) schools are reported to have been tested with only Craftsbury Elementary School reporting a test above the recommended action level, with a reading of 4.4 in the unoccupied basement.
People’s Academy in Morrisville tested two areas with elevated radon levels: A reading of 7.0 was found in a sub-basement storage and a reading of 4.3 in a gym trainer’s office.
Area schools that Hoffer reported haven’t performed testing include Cabot School, Danville School, Twinfield Union School and Walden Elementary School.
“The statute required schools to make the radon measurement results available to each employee and student at the school, although it did not specify how that should be done,” said Hoffer.
“Methods varied. Some schools sent letters to all families, some included the information in newsletters and others posted the information on school websites. However, the report indicated “many schools that tested did not provide us with documentation that they provided any notification.”
Hoffer’s role as Vermont State Auditor is to act as the chief watchdog for taxpayers, ensuring state government accountability, efficiency and transparency. The office identifies waste, fraud and abuse through various kinds of audit, while evaluating if state programs effectively use public funds.
In his report, Hoffer said, “The state did not require schools to report the results of the radon testing. Collecting state-wide data and analyzing trends is important for evaluating radon safety in Vermont schools. It also provides opportunities for data-driven decision making and increased accountability and transparency.
He suggested requiring schools to report testing results to VDH.
“While we intended to gather information on all schools required by statute, we were able to identify lessons learned after contacting the public schools,” said Hoffer.
“We encourage VDH to reach out to the approved independent schools who are also required to complete radon testing to verify their compliance with statute.”
Hoffer recommended clarifying how stakeholders should be notified. “While some schools chose to notify staff and students, some interpreted the statute to mean results merely need to be made available upon request. Transparent communication is a key aspect to building community trust and maintaining healthy and safe schools,” he said.
Hoffer concluded by saying, “I want to acknowledge my staff who conducted this research and the many school officials who complied with this important public health requirement.”
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in rocks, soil, and water that has no color, smell, or taste. While radon is present in outdoor air, radon levels can build up inside buildings. Unless a radon test is performed, there is no way of knowing if radon is present in a building. Breathing air with radon increases the risk of developing lung cancer and is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States after cigarette smoke. Its presence in school buildings poses risks to the adult staff who work in the schools year after year, and to children whose developing lungs can lead to higher absorption levels.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
