Riverside Schools Superintendent Scott Mann reported at the Tuesday evening board of education meeting that the district has been pleased with the recent upgrades to air quality made at the school building this year to improve CO2 levels, an important factor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The air quality is better than it has ever been,” Mann said. “We are very happy with the results of our recent project, and the chance to add ionization units to classrooms and more frequent fresh air exchanges for the building.
“(Logan County) Health Commissioner Dr. (Boyd) Hoddinott has been a strong proponent of the need to monitor our CO2 levels to ensure good air quality during the pandemic, and we were among the first schools jump on this effort.”
During August, the board approved a $71,202, contract with Waibel Energy Systems for the work to adjust ventilation sequences, provide air purification improvements, filtration evaluation and to disinfect of HVAC equipment and surfaces in the building in preparation for the return of students at the end of that month.
Mann previously said federal grants funds issued for COVID-19 expenses paid for about half of the project, with the remaining expenses to be paid out of the permanent improvement fund.
Air purification procedures included installing GPS bi-polar ionization iMod units in seven air-handling in the main building and in two units in the district office trailer.
To improve ventilation, Waibel also adjusted the facility’s control sequences to include a purge sequence after school days and a large purge prior to the start of school each week.
In other buildings and grounds matters, the superintendent reported that the district’s roof replacement is nearing completion, and work on the project should be wrapped up by the end of the month or early next month.
During April, the board approved the $1,895,211 roofing project with Waibel Energy Systems for the K-12 building.
Mann also related that the district is nearing the end of its first nine-week grading period, and the administration couldn’t be happier with how the return to school has gone for students and staff.
“It is a relief for us to all be back in the classroom five days a week, and I’m proud of our staff and students for the ways they have adapted and been flexible as changes come up.”
In other action, the board:
• extended supplemental contracts to: Jacob Herron, freshman boys basketball; Tim Woods, eighth-grade boys basketball; Todd Guthrie, head baseball; Jacob Herron, assistant varsity baseball; Andy Phelps, head softball; Kylee Purtee, varsity assistant softball; Molly Harshbarger, Abigail Proffitt, junior varsity softball; Brogan Oliver, head high school boys track; Tim McGill, head high school girls track; Skip Oliver, junior high boys track; Maelinn Myers, junior high girls track;
• approved the following volunteer coaches: Hunter Kreglow, assistant varsity boys basketball; Tim Walls, Ryan Robinson, assistant varsity baseball; Deanna McIntosh, assistant varsity softball;
• approved the following staff members as mentors in the Resident Educator Mentor program: Kellea Wilkinson, Stacey Fauley, Lindsay Wyan, Billie Yoder and Nancy Dunham;
• accepted a donation of $300 from Steve Austin’s; and
• approved the updated records retention policy to be sent to the state for all required approvals.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the school library.