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Public commenter urges layered air filtration near school construction
Summary
A recorded public comment urged Radnor officials to add portable HEPA purifiers and air scrubbers near active construction and noted the district’s HVAC is limited to MERV 10 filtration; the board did not commit to purchases at the meeting.
A recorded public commenter and local resident raised concerns at the June 9 Radnor Township School District meeting about air quality where schools border active construction, urging the district to consider portable HEPA air purifiers and air scrubbers as an added layer of protection.
John Clare (S9) framed his remarks with an analogy about automobile safety to argue for layered protections for children during construction activity. Clare said the district has taken steps — monitoring, water trucks, dust-control measures and construction planning — but added that portable filtration can provide an additional safeguard without rebuilding HVAC systems: "When children and staff are occupying a school next to a major construction project, I believe layered protection is worth considering."
Clare also stated he understood the existing HVAC systems are limited to MERV 10 filtration and therefore cannot accommodate MERV 13 filters; he recommended portable HEPA units and air scrubbers as feasible supplemental measures. Meeting speakers did not record a formal staff commitment or vote on purchases or deployment of portable filtration during this session.
The comment was filed as part of the public-comment period; union and community speakers otherwise focused their remarks on retiree recognition. The board’s facilities committee earlier reported discussion of an Ithon Temp HVAC project and a DCED Public School Facility Improvement Grant application on the agenda for board approval.
