Grants Pass schools getting new air ventilation systems during the summer

GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Grants Pass School District 7 is getting new air ventilation systems during the summer. Grants Pass School District 7 approved the new HVAC project back in June 2020 during a school board and budget committee.

Superintendent Kirk Kolb said half of the Grants Pass schools don’t have air conditioning, which means there’s no new airflow coming into classrooms. However, the school district also said the project has been a priority for many years. Now, the project is being implemented during summer break.

Grants Pass School Dist. 7 said these upgrades are going to be helpful during wildfire season when kids are in classrooms with windows shut due to smoke.

“We’ve secured contractors to update central vac for all of our buildings. So going into next year we’re gonna be in a much better place with regard to [the] air ventilation,” said Superintendent Kolb.

He said the schools that do have AC have quote “pretty good quality” systems. That’s why there’s a focus to update all buildings.