Indoor air quality problems prompt Duval County (Fla.) district parents to raise money for air purifiers

25 purifiers have been donated for classrooms during the first two weeks of school.

Aug. 25, 2021

2 min read

Teachers and parents frustrated by indoor air quality problems in Duval County (Fla.) district schools have begun donating air purifiers for classrooms at several schools.

The Florida Times Union reports that after classes resumed earlier this month, parents complained that the air conditioning was not working at several district buildings. The problems are especially concerning now because poor ventilation can exacerbate the spread of Covid-19.

In response, teachers and parents have begun buying and donating air purifiers for classrooms across the district and are also raising money for additional purifiers.

Duval County has collected about $40 million in sales tax revenue for facility improvements, but it wasn't clear how many of those pending projects involve air conditioning systems.

School officials had said the district was "on schedule" to complete HVAC-related work in time for the opening of school. Air conditioning systems were being configured to circulate more air to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

But parents say outages persisted during the first week of school.

Over $6,000 has been raised from a GoFundMe page that parents have set up to purchase air purifiers.

The group has donated 25 purifiers in the first two weeks of school.