By Riley Gonzales, staff writer
On the weekend of October 16th, 2021, HEPA air filters were installed in all of the River Hill classrooms as an extra precaution against COVID-19. Students returned to school on Monday to find these new purifiers in their classrooms, unsure of their functionality.
HCPSS Superintendent Dr. Martirano announced the purchase of 4,600 HEPA air filter units for HCPSS classrooms during the September 2nd Board of Education meeting. They were set to arrive in schools by October 1st. Elementary schools took the priority of having the filters installed, followed by middle and then high schools. The usage of these filters was recommended by experts specializing in ventilation and air quality as an extra precaution against the spread of COVID-19.
“Our commitment to a safe reopening has been driven by a singular goal – to return to normalized instruction and do everything possible to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” announced Dr. Martirano during the Board of Education meeting.
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. These air purifiers use filters made of glass fibers to trap airborne particles, including germs and bacteria. The filters are changed on a regular basis, disposing of the particles trapped by the system.
Prior to the installation of these HEPA air purifiers, MERV-13 air filters were incorporated into HVAC infrastructure across the school system. The HEPA air purifiers in each classroom serve as a layer of protection in addition to the filters in the HVAC systems, though not all students feel confident in the abilities of the purifiers to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
A survey of 25 River Hill students shows that 92% were aware of the HEPA filters having been installed, but only 23% of the surveyed students were confident in the effectiveness of the purifiers.
The air filters did not provide much comfort against the student fears of COVID-19 for those who were unsure of its effects, as the school system had not described the purpose or functionality of the HEPA filters. However, even without this information, some students had more positive feelings towards the new purifiers.
Of the students polled, 58% said that they felt safer having the air purifiers in their classrooms. They boosted the students’ confidence that the school system is taking effective precautions against the spread of COVID-19.
The Howard County Public School system is doing everything they can to decrease the risk of COVID-19, and these air filters bring River Hill one step closer to a safer school environment.