Ventilation is a key component to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools. The district has planned for maximum ventilation, with our goal to maintain five air exchanges per hour in the classroom. This is based on guidance from Harvard and the University of Colorado Boulder and in collaboration with our UCSD expert panel.

In order to achieve this, the district has implemented the following:

All existing HVAC systems have been serviced and filters have been replaced. Higher levels of filtration (i.e. Merv-13) are being installed in all systems that can accommodate them. Systems have been adjusted to bring in more outside air.
Using natural ventilation (opening doors and windows, even when the HVAC is running).
Using air purifiers with HEPA filters (provides a higher level of filtration). Air purifiers have been allocated to each site, and the numbers of purifiers in a classroom will vary based on MERV rating, room size, number of windows, type of HVAC system, etc. Air purifiers will be placed in strategic locations for maximum effectiveness.

San Diego Unified is monitoring ventilation effectiveness in our school sites to ensure that the air exchanges are occurring and that the air is healthy for students and staff. This is done by monitoring remote sensors spread across the district.

Indoor particulate sensors, which can measure microscopic size particles that could transport COVID-19 virus, are deployed and will be rotated to various rooms to gather information and inform decisions.
Also, carbon dioxide (CO2) detectors are in place in various classrooms to test the air. This has a different function than the particulate sensor and will help to determine the amount of fresh air entering the room.

Elementary

Middle

High

K-8

Other

Baker Elementary

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