Numerous 海角换妻 public schools will receive millions in state funding to upgrade their heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It鈥檚 part of larger state efforts to improve school air quality.
Poor air quality in school buildings is among the country鈥檚 top environmental health risks,
This is the second round of funding for the earmarked in the state鈥檚 . Across the state, $122 million will go to schools who applied for the program last year, the Department of Administrative Services Monday.
鈥淐urrently, over 935 schools in 海角换妻 have HVAC systems that are broken, failing, or in need of replacement,鈥� said Kate Dias, president of the 海角换妻 Education Association. 鈥淪ick buildings threaten our health and cost our communities precious resources to mitigate.鈥�
Under the grant, 海角换妻 municipalities must provide matching funds to support the projects. According to the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), 54% of the funding is going to districts below the state鈥檚 median measure of wealth.
Dias said local boards of education hold responsibility to maintain their schools, and the funds are a good step forward, but not a 鈥渟ilver bullet solution鈥� to air quality issues in 海角换妻鈥檚 schools.
鈥淲ith old facilities and steep price tags, this has been a difficult challenge to tackle but thanks to the historic investment from Gov. [Ned] Lamont, we have empowered hundreds of schools to make significant HVAC improvements enabling healthier schools and better learning environments," said state Rep. Jennifer Leeper, co-chair of the Indoor Air Quality Task Force.
State Sen. Julie Kushner, who also co-chairs the group, said the added funds will 鈥渕ake a real difference鈥� for schools, but that the state鈥檚 work on this issue isn鈥檛 done. This year, the General Assembly approved that includes resources to improve indoor school air quality.
The proposal and was eventually incorporated into concerning school resources.
The bill heading to the governor鈥檚 desk extends the working group to 2031 to make recommendations surrounding performance of A/C, heating, and ventilation. The measure also requires HVAC system inspections in at least one-fifth of school districts鈥� buildings every year.
鈥淥ur goal is to ensure every student in 海角换妻 has the opportunity to learn in ideal classroom conditions,鈥� Kushner said.
