District brings in air scrubbers and box fans after wildfire smoke affected indoor air at Wenatchee High

Superintendent Kallahar and district staff told the board that recent regional wildfire smoke temporarily degraded indoor air at several sites, most notably Wenatchee High School, and that the district coordinated with the local health district and a restoration contractor to bring in air scrubbers and filtered box fans.

According to the superintendent’s report, Turner Restoration provided multiple HEPA air scrubbers and the health district supplied additional units; staff also received 14 filtered box fans that remain district property. Administrators set up the units and monitored air‑quality readings; the superintendent said the equipment visibly removed particulates and that teachers and students who had been wearing masks reported improvement once the scrubbers and fans were deployed.

Superintendent Kallahar also said the district procured indoor air‑quality monitors to help decision makers identify when additional mitigation is needed. The district advised that it will keep a supply of the fans and will continue to work with public‑health partners on best practices during periods of poor regional air quality.

Why it matters: wildfire smoke can create immediate health and instructional disruptions. The district’s rapid deployment of air‑cleaning equipment and coordination with the health district reduced immediate exposure in affected buildings and gives the district more tools for future smoke episodes.

Board follow up: the superintendent included this as part of the regular superintendent’s report; no policy changes or new budget requests were recorded in the Oct. 14 meeting minutes.