The Culver Community School Board received information about technology that, if purchased and installed, would improve the air quality for students and staff at the school corporation.
Heidi Melton from Energy Harness spoke to the school board members about an air filtration system that could be installed throughout the Elementary School and Middle/High School that would improve health and wellness of students and faculty.
She explained that the UVC system that helps kill bacteria in the air to lower the chances of the circulation of airborne pathogens. A 2X4 device that would be installed in the drop ceiling of each room would pull in air, send the air through the UVC system and then distribute the cleaner air back out to the room. She said it would take minutes to go through the initial cycle of a room, depending on the size of the room.
A total of 117 devices would be installed at a cost of $229,425, but an exact way to pay for the project has not been determined.
Superintendent Karen Shuman said the school has been working on HVAC systems and air quality. A safety grant could go toward the cost of this project in September 2023, if the board agrees to move forward with it, or use bond money if projects come in under bid and the allocation of that money is shifted to spend on this project.
No formal decision was made.
Shuman noted that an ionization device is being tested at the high school at this time.
The school board took the presentation under advisement to discuss during the first quarter of 2023.
