Eastwood schools earmarked $226,000 to improve air quality

1/12/2010

Eastwood Local Schools plans to spend about $226,000 to try to solve a problem of elevated carbon dioxide levels in its three elementary schools.

At Webster Elementary, where questions about air quality first arose when two students briefly passed out during a music recital in November, the building's house fan is going to be resurrected, said Superintendent Brent Welker.

Revitalizing Webster's ventilation system, which likely was disabled before 1977 because of high costs during the energy crisis then, is expected to cost more than $61,000. Work is expected to be completed this month.

At Luckey and Pemberville elementaries, the district plans — at a cost of about $165,000 — to replace univents with upgraded equipment so outside air can be drawn in and tempered before entering classrooms. It is too costly to resurrect Luckey's house fan, and Pemberville does not have one, the superintendent said.

Costlier solutions may have to be implemented if carbon dioxide problems are not solved with upgraded equipment, Mr. Welker warned. One univent will be replaced in each school and testing done before more work is done.

The district is temporarily solving problems with elevated carbon dioxide levels by keeping some windows open to vent rooms with fresh air.