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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 Page 7 Improvements on the way for air flow at Garfield, Beachmont and Revere High School By Adam Swift T here’s some good news about the air fl ow and air quality at the Beachmont and Garfi eld Schools, two of three schools that have been an area of concern with Revere teachers. At Monday’s School Committee meeting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dianne Kelly and Facilities Director Carl Svendsen gave an HVAC update for the two schools, as well as the high school, the third school that has generated concern due to air low issues during the Covid-19 pandemic. School oficials noted that additional steps will be taken to address the high school, as well. “Over the summer we were making sure our ventilation systems were working well, and Carl spearheaded that work … to make sure we had adequate air exchanges in all of our classrooms,” said Kelly, adding that the schools worked with several consultants on the overview of the HVAC systems. That research showed that there were some problems at the Beachmont, Garield and high schools. “The ventilation systems were working properly, but because of their age they weren’t necessarily designed to optimize the inlow of outside air, but were designed to heat a space,” said Kelly. Experts recommend air exchange and inlow from the outside to help make indoor spaces safer from the potential spread of Covid-19. Working with the engineering consultant, Kelly said, Svendsen and his team came up with a system to override some of those tendencies. “But the preliminary data showed we might still need to do some more work,” said Kelly. Working with the consultants, it was determined that a speciic type of ilter, the MERV 13, would bring in the equivalency of outside air needed to pass muster at the Beachmont and Garield Schools. “At the high school, it showed we still had a need for some more support in purifying the air,” said Kelly. Svendsen said the air ilters make up the deiciency in the air low and are able to bring the air low numbers up to where they need to be at the Beachmont and Garield. “The Beachmont School is in really good shape once the MERV 13 ilters are installed,” said Kelly, adding that the measurements are also where they need to be at the Garield. “We’re very satisied with where we will be at the Beachmont and Garield Schools once the MERV 13 ilters are installed.” The ilters are on backorder and are expected to arrive by the end of January, said Kelly. At the high school, Kelly said, testing shows that air exchange in the Core A, B and C rooms is already where it needs to be. “The air exchange in these rooms already meets the standards,” Kelly said. “The areas we are more concerned with are the more traditional classrooms in the 100, 200 and 300 wings, because those are rooms where each room has its own unit ventilator, and that’s where we ind a capacity issue.” To help take care of the issue in the room, Kelly said, the schools are working with city oficials to get standalone High-Eficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) ilters for each classroom at the high school. “It’s more than a HEPA ilter, it’s an air puriier that’s electric fan–driven,” said Svendsen. School Committee Member Michael Ferrante asked if the new air ilters and puriiers mean that windows will be able to be closed at the schools. “I don’t see any reason why not,” said Svendsen. “The reason we opened the windows was because we only had the speculation for the numbers, not the real numbers [for air exchange rates]. At this point, those numbers show us that we are bringing in a suficient amount of outdoor air.” Space for Lease 3 Large Rooms, each with Large Walk-in Storage Area. or Aerobics Studio. Located at Route 1 South at Walnut Street. Rollerworld Plaza, Route 1 South, 425 Broadway, Saugus. Call Michelle at: 781-233-9507 AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE CA$H FOR YOUR CAR! DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! Cold Hard Cash For Your Car, Truck or SUV! 2014 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE LT Excellent Condition, Most Power Options, Key-less Entry, Panoramic Moon Roof, Backup Camera, Remote Start, 126K Miles, Warranty! TRADES WELCOME $10,900 Easy Financing Available! EddiesAutotech.com 2008 CADILLAC DTS Platinum Package, Every Conceivable Option, Clean Title, Only 86K Miles, Warranty! TRADES WELCOME $8,500 781-321-8841 1236 EasternAve • Malden We Pay Cash For Your Vehicle!

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