The ability of schools to reopen has become a prime concern as the new school year quickly approaches. School districts across the country are attempting to ease the nerves of worried parents with plans for social distancing, personal protective equipment usage, and stringent cleaning protocols. But one of the most effective solutions also comes with the highest price tag — improving the HVAC systems.
School budgets are often squeezed, and HVAC falls behind other priorities. The federal General Accounting Office (GAO) recently found that 41 percent of school districts across the country need to update or replace HVAC systems in at least half of their schools, representing about 36,000 schools nationwide that need HVAC updates. The same GAO study found security and access to technology ranked above replacing HVAC systems.