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The High-Tech Tool The City Is Testing Airflow At Public Schools: Toilet Paper
By
David Cruz
Published Aug 26, 2020
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Picture provided to Mark Treyger
By
David Cruz
Published Aug 26, 2020
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A day after city officials said they would be applying the most rigorous methods to test air quality ahead of reopening of public schools, pictures have surfaced showing the city Department of Education's School Ventilation Action Teams using toilet paper to determine cleanliness and airflow.
The pictures were shared with New York City Council education committee chair Mark Treyger showing toilet paper on a stick during a classroom inspection. The pictures were taken inside a Manhattan high school, which Treyger was told not to fully identify.
"They noticed that the inspection team placed toilet paper in a binder clip at the end of a yardstick. And they were sticking it in the air by a light or by a vent," Treyger recalled being told. "The school official asked them what were they what were they doing and they responded that they were checking for adequate airflow and adequate air ventilation and it was a very surreal moment."
The School Ventilation Action Teams were announced yesterday by Mayor Bill de Blasio at a news conference alongside Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza. Both hailed the program — which sees more than 100 teams comprised of ventilation experts and engineers — monitoring air quality at every classroom to determine cleanliness before the first day of school. Inspectors are expected to either approve a classroom for use, identify what needs to be fixed to ensure it's ready for school reopening, or take the classroom offline.
De Blasio said the city will apply a "high standard" to screening these classrooms, with teams expected to complete the work by next week with a report compiled of its findings by September 4th, six days before the opening of school.
"If this is their definition of rigorous, comprehensive ventilation inspection, then I have I have some serious questions," said Treyger, who's never seen this kind of inspection happen in this way. "You are not instilling confidence in students and parents and educators when you're promising to protect their safety and their health by waving toilet paper up in the air."
Treyger — who has called for schools to reopen only for elementary school children — said that the incident demonstrates how much of a deficit the city's Department of Education faces, which he acknowledges will take intervention from Albany to fix.
"It definitely costs money to operationalize safety plans, but it doesn't cost a dime to be honest and transparent with New Yorkers. And it is the worst kept secret that the city is broke," said Treyger. "And I think this is further evidence of how broke the city is."
Update: "Ventilation Action Teams are comprised of licensed professional engineers who are analyzing building ventilation components to determine if they are functioning and what, if any, repairs must be made," DOE spokesperson Nathaniel Styer said in a statement. "This includes a 'tissue test' which is a CDC recommended way of determining airflow. Air quality tests will be conducted with certified CO2 readers. The Council Member should reach out to us with his concerns before jumping to conclusions on the internet."
Schools were inspected on June 3rd, using "health indoor environment" guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Tagged
COVID-19
ventilation
schools reopening
David Cruz
David is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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