At tonight’s School Committee, Josh Morse the Commissioner of Public Buildings reported on the city’s comprehensive review and upgrade of the entire school system’s ventilation systems.
Their target was to insure that every used room in all 23 school buildings can meet the recommended standard (ASHRAE 62.1) for fresh air at 100% occupancy within the context of Covid19.
The job is nearly complete, roughly $2 millions worth of improvements have already been completed, and the end of scheduled work is close to complete. Here’s the detailed info about each school.
With the overwhelming interest in returning students to classroom this is a very important piece of the puzzle and an important milestone.
This is an important development for our schools, obviously for now but also for the future.
In these most difficult of times, we must look for silver linings. Our schools will now have better ventilation and healthier air through an investment that Newton likely would never have otherwise made.
What a great thought Mike! Maybe post Covid we’ll all be less sick due the adaptations we have learned.
This is an impressive piece of project management. Congratulations to Commissioner Morse and all involved. Mike Halle’s point about the long term benefits is a good one.
This was a huge project, however, I hope NPS doesn’t keep the windows opened all the way during the winter months. Josh Morse said that windows can be cracked, but the ventilation is good for full occupancy and no need for the windows to be opened.
Josh Morse has been one of the few who has shined in trying to make the schools safe. He has been very transparent about sharing data detailed and high level. I also think he is very good at explaining to the layman what they have done and what the important metrics are to focus on. Other areas of the effort could learn from his approach.
As Newton Mom said the windows can be cracked open but he said even that is unnecessary and any wider offers no benefit. Hopefully this will be communicated to the schools and classroom teachers. It sounds like during the process Josh Morse got the opportunity to talk with most teachers so hopefully they are feeling confident about the safety of their rooms. If they are not I would encourage them to speak with him.
Excellent. This is an important component to the full, normal reopening in the fall that Newton residents expect.
I asked Josh when we will know whether Newton North will meet the standards, and he has not answered that question yet. Students are returning in two days. Another question I have is are we meeting the 62.1 (min. standards for green building) or the ASHRAE 62.1 Epidemic Task Force Standards. These are two different things I think.
Great news indeed!