East Brunswick: School District Takes Steps To Boost Air Quality

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — After the East Brunswick Education Association (EBEA) called on the school district to halt its reopening plans, the superintendent of East Brunswick Public Schools released a statement to the school community, saying the district was proactively “assessing, evaluating and improving our indoor air quality.”

Victor Valeski’s response earlier this week came after the EBEA expressed reservations over the HVAC system.

The school district has adopted a hybrid model for the upcoming school year, beginning on Sep. 8. But the EBEA says reopening is unsafe as the district has failed to evaluate the air quality in buildings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Read more here: East Brunswick Education Association Calls To Halt Reopening Plan

“We always have used the highest rated filters that meet each of our system's operational specifications. HVAC filters have Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value or (MERV) as defined by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE),” Valeski said.

Valeski said that no “filter can act as a singular prevention against COVID-19" and that filter upgrades “remain possible components of a comprehensive approach to environmental safety if they do not impede the critical indoor/outdoor air exchange rates of the HVAC systems where they are installed.”

Apart from upgrading the HVAC system, Valeski said the district exceeded Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance to ensure safety standards in schools.

At a board of education meeting on Aug. 20, teachers also expressed their reservations about coming back to school buildings.

Lauren Broderson, a teacher for 20 years felt the ventilation system does not fulfill safety requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19, creating an unsafe environment. "Unfortunately, I don't feel it's safe to return to classroom," said Broderick. She also spoke about the fluctuating temperatures in classrooms, and had concerns about cross-contamination.

The EBEA had worked with the school district to come up with the hybrid plan.

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.