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News Releases » Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Awarded Approximately $1.5 Million for Student Health and Safety

Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Awarded Approximately $1.5 Million for Student Health and Safety

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 20, 2023


Contact: 

Marci McFadden, Chief of Communications & Engagement

831-706-6971


Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Awarded Approximately $1.5 Million for Student Health and Safety

District to install 639 CO2/air quality monitors detectors in classrooms 


Monterey, CA - The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District received $604,920 in March 2023 from the California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing, and Efficiency (CalSHAPE) Ventilation Program by the California Energy Commission (CEC). This grant is in addition to $927,210 the district received in July 2022 specific to 10 MPUSD school sites.


The CalSPAHPE program provides grants to schools that are in underserved communities for the purpose of upgrading heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) systems in public schools and replacing non compliant plumbing fixtures and appliances that fail to meet water efficiency standards. Specifically the program aims to:


  • Assess 
  • Maintain, adjust, repair (or)
  • Upgrade heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in schools 
  • Continuous CO2 monitoring to ensure proper ventilation is maintained in classrooms

 

In MPUSD, the district will utilize the funding to support:

  • HVAC assessment and maintenance and develop an HVAC assessment report
  • Replace and install filters 
  • Purchase and installation of CO2/Air Quality monitors 
  • Additionally, a 20% contingency fund will be set aside for maintenance or repairs identified by a licensed professional’s review of the district’s HVAC assessment report

“This initiative is important as we know that healthy air quality is a condition needed for students and staff to thrive,” said Associate Superintendent of Business Services Ryan Altemeyer. “Our strategy is three-fold and ensures our classroom HVAC systems are circulating fresh air and filtering properly, maintains classroom air purification through the use of HEPA filters, and considers overall air quality monitoring.”

MPUSD has prioritized updating classroom heating and ventilation systems that are equipped with MERV-13 filters. Each unit is also programmed to circulate classroom air with a mix of outside air. Classrooms are also equipped with HEPA air purifier units that are set in auto-mode to adjust filtering based on classroom air quality.

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About Monterey Peninsula Unified School District

 

The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is home to approximately 9,600 students in grades transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. The district also houses preschool and adult education. The district is built on a solid foundation of effective instruction, positive school culture, systems of support, and collaborative leadership. The district is nestled along the Monterey Bay, and stretches from the city of Marina to the north to the city of Monterey to the south, and includes the communities of Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey, Sand City and Seaside.