Middletown reviews indoor-air-quality assessments, plans targeted HVAC and roof work

Middletown — The Middletown School District presented results of a state-mandated indoor air quality (IAQ) assessment at its Jan. 14 board meeting, and officials said the findings will shape capital planning and add costs to an already tight budget.

Superintendent Dr. Vasquez Matos told the board the district completed the required IAQ assessment and posted the full reports online, and that the district has begun addressing many of the items raised in the summaries. Facilities staff member Marco Gaylord led the board through a condensed summary of the assessments and next steps.

The reports covered radon testing, ventilation systems, mold and bacteria exposure, pest infestations and building cleanliness. Gaylord said district tradespeople have already remedied roughly 40% of noted issues and that custodial staff have received additional IAQ training. "We did a lot of training with our school custodians," Gaylord said, and he credited specific trades staff for early cleanup work.

The required process has two steps: an initial building-level evaluation and a follow‑up engineering assessment of mechanical systems. Under a state flexibility the district will complete engineering assessments for 20% of its schools over the next five years; Gaylord said the district will select two schools this summer for the deeper review and will develop cost estimates from those vendor reports.

Board members raised concerns about roof leaks, ceiling tiles and dirty diffusers, and asked how the district will prevent recurring pest or moisture problems. Gaylord said teams are performing perimeter checks and patching building openings, and that the district uses a vendor for pest management. "Not just removing the trap, but also taking care of any of the droppings," he said when describing the protocol for mouse or bird infestations.

Several board members noted the assessments are an unfunded mandate and urged the administration to work with the city on funding. Dr. Vasquez Matos said the findings should be reflected in the district's five‑year capital plan and raised the prospect of pursuing grant funding or city match for roof and mechanical work.

The district will form an IAQ committee that will include district staff and invited members of school communities to participate in periodic walkthroughs and monthly school briefings. Gaylord said the next phase — engineering assessments and mechanical repairs — will be the more costly element and that the district is preparing to scope and budget that work.

The full IAQ assessment documents were reported as posted to the district website during the meeting. Board members asked the administration to return with cost estimates and a plan for prioritizing HVAC and roof work as the budget process proceeds.