Superintendents and boards of education more often than not choose "books over bricks" and their repair and maintenance budgets usually are lower than what they need. However, they all recognize the importance of healthy schools for students and staff. Is there a way to improve the condition of one's school buildings without spending a lot of money? Yes, it is possible. Amity Regional School District 5 in Connecticut went from being the poster child of poor indoor air quality to a nationally recognized model of sustained excellence of indoor air quality. District staff members try to head off costly problems from unhealthy or unsafe buildings (i.e., high absenteeism and low morale, respiratory illnesses, lawsuits) by implementing a comprehensive preventive maintenance program. This article discusses how the school district was successful in implementing the EPA's Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools (TfS) program which helped the district improve indoor air quality without breaking the bank.