McCracken Schools to Install Air Filtration Devices to Fight COVID | New

Superintendent Steve Carter said the devices would cost around $ 1 million and would be paid for through federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding that comes from the Aid Act, 2020. Coronavirus Relief and Economic Security (CARES) and the 2021 U.S. Emergency Plan.

“At first, thinking about the pandemic, there was a lot of talk about air quality, fresh air and moving air throughout the building,” Carter said. “Throughout this, many different vendors have sent in all kinds of information. For about a year, there were a lot of different air quality sanitizer companies sending information to myself and other administrators.

“We have continued to do research throughout the past year, trying to find the scientists who have really refined what we need and checking who has a backup and which institutions have used similar products or the produced in a capacity that would benefit our students. “

Carter said the disinfection and air purification system will provide another layer of mitigation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools, as well as vaccinations, mask wear, social distancing and practice good hygiene.

“One thing we have to remember is that a lot of our buildings are older,” he said. “There are safety laws that require us to keep our doors closed and our windows closed. This makes it very difficult to circulate fresh air and purify the air when you have other guidelines that you need to follow.

“This was an opportunity for us to filter our air in our classroom in a way that would be efficient and least disruptive in the battle of COVID. Even outside of COVID, it will also help with other airborne infectious agents that might arise later. “

Carter said installation of the devices began Monday night, hoping to have them in place in all schools by October 1.

Brad Cleaver – the vice president of sales for MEDformance, the device distributor, as well as the head coach of the boys’ basketball at Calloway County High School – said his company had partnered with another company called WellAir of Dublin, Ireland, to bring the nanostrike technology. to the indoor air quality industry.

“This technology has been around for 10 years now,” he said.

Cleaver said that nanostrike technology has coils, and when air passes over the coils, microorganisms are destroyed and removed from the air.

“This technology works very similar to love at first sight,” he said. “Nanotechnology – once it uses heat, once air flows over it and microorganisms flow over the coils – it acts like a thunderbolt and destroys and deactivates these pathogens immediately.

“Not only are pathogens, but they also work on allergens, which was a key point as I spoke with Mr. Carter to identify technology he could invest in that not only solves the problems we currently have with. COVID. but also for people with asthma and allergies.

This article was edited at 10 am September 1 by David B. Snow.