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Policy committee to revise HVAC inspection policy to meet state indoor-air-quality requirements
Summary
The Wallingford School District policy committee reviewed a new state-aligned indoor air quality/HVAC policy that would require phased inspections—at least 20% of schools annually—so all schools complete inspections by 2030; members raised concerns about budgeting, grant language, and collaboration with town administration.
The Wallingford School District policy committee on its December agenda reviewed a proposed district policy aligning the system with new state requirements for indoor air quality and HVAC inspections.
Speaker 2, who presented the draft, said the policy restates what districts must do under recent state protocol and noted that the district’s director of building and grounds, Mr. Deptula, is working on implementation. The proposed text would require phased HVAC inspections so the district completes inspections and evaluations for all schools by 2030, with a minimum of 20% of schools inspected each year through 2030.
Board members pressed the presenter on several details. Speaker 3 asked about a provision exempting buildings projected to cease school use within three years and how the district should handle a change in plans if a building scheduled for closure remains in use beyond that window. Speaker 2 said the district would conduct an inspection if plans changed and agreed to clarify the policy language before a second read.
Members also flagged budget and grant concerns. Speaker 4 and Speaker 3 asked whether the sentence that directs the district to "evaluate and apply for grant opportunities if offered by the Department of Administrative Services" would limit the district from pursuing other applicable grants. Speaker 2 said she would review the source materials and either broaden the language to permit "other applicable grants" that meet state criteria or otherwise clarify the district’s authority to pursue funding.
Several members expressed concern that a paragraph directing the superintendent to "collaborate with the town administration to plan budgets" could be read as imposing obligations on town officials without their involvement. Speaker 3 and Speaker 4 recommended removing that paragraph. Speaker 2 agreed to remove the language and to keep budget conversations within the district’s usual budgeting and capital planning process, and to present more information at the January operations meeting.
Speaker 2 said she will change the page-3 sentence that members found confusing and will return the policy for a second read in January with clarified language and supporting documentation, including the district’s current HVAC inspection schedule and an estimate of financial impact.
The committee did not take a formal vote on the policy at the meeting; Speaker 2 said the item will return for additional review and a second reading in January.
