Mamaroneck Schools

N95 masks and/or double masking are not required at this time.  For the start of the 2021-2022 school year, all students and staff - regardless of vaccination status - are required to wear masks that completely cover the nose and mouth while inside school buildings, with exceptions only for those individuals for whom it is not safe to do so due to medical conditions.  Masks are not required when students are outdoors. This includes outdoor physical education, recess and playing sports. “Mask Breaks” will be provided throughout the day.  Students must comply with the mask policy just as they do with any other policy regarding student behavior.  We ask families to assist us in ensuring compliance.

Lunch and certain special academic activities will require greater physical distancing (6 feet) than the 3-feet guidelines, and we will use both traditional and non-traditional spaces to accommodate these needs. Outdoor spaces at all of our schools will be used whenever possible. Physical distancing is not required when students are outdoors; however, students will be encouraged to enable space between them and their peers when outdoors. 

Band and Orchestra students will participate in instrumental music activities. Wind instrumentalists will wear specialized musician masks and utilize instrument covers. Distancing will be a minimum of 3 feet and maximized wherever possible. Chorus: Students will participate in singing activities/instruction, wearing masks while singing indoors. Distancing will be a minimum of 3 feet and maximized wherever possible.

 

We have received several questions from community members about the District’s ventilation strategy and what  has been done since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. See information below, plus some additional resources at the bottom of the page for further reference. 

What indoor air quality protocols are currently in place due to COVID? 

Key features of MUFSD’s air quality strategy implemented in summer, 2020 in response to COVID-19 transmission concerns include:

• Operating our HVAC systems 24/7 to provide a steady and constant flow of fresh air into our buildings. (Prior to COVID, the system was inactive during after-school hours/non-occupancy.) Windows are also opened to further increase air flow.

• In areas of the building that have air conditioning, keeping humidity between 40% - 60% as recommended to minimize the transmission of COVID-19

• Running our 500 iWave air purifying devices, which were installed in our HVAC systems. These sophisticated iWave units use a patented technology called needlepoint bi-polar ionization (NPBI) to help remove any pathogens in the air and on surfaces in our facilities. In addition to neutralizing viruses, these units come with the added benefit of cleaning the air of bacteria, mold, allergens, odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), etc., creating a healthier environment without producing any harmful byproducts. ​​The ionization process also causes particulates in the air to agglomerate causing small particles that would normally pass through a MERV-8 filter to cluster and form larger particles that now get captured by the MERV-8 filters.

How did the District decide to proceed with its current ventilation plan?

The District air quality team (consisting of Director of Facilities Steve Brugge, Asst. Superintendent for Business Sylvia Wallach and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shaps) relies on our architectural and engineering firm LAN Associates  to provide recommendations for managing and improving indoor air quality. LAN complies with industry standards for schools and recommendations from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).  The District and LAN also consulted with the New York State Dept. of Education regarding the installation of NPBI systems. 

How does the NPBI (500 iWave) Technology Work with the  MERV-8 systems?  

MUFSD purchased and installed NPBI air purifiers to work with the existing MERV 8 air filters in systems common to all of the district’s HVAC units.  LAN Associates cites NBPI in a recent letter as producing “proven results in eliminating odors, reducing pathogens, and providing better indoor air quality.” LAN and other air quality experts that the District consulted agree that the use of NBPI alongside the MERV-8 filters creates an air quality environment near MERV-13 levels; this is because the ionization process combines airborne particles and pathogens at similar rates to MERV-13 levels.

Which other institutions use NPBI technology?
NPBI technology is used by Boston Children’s Hospital, Google, the White House, the Mayo Clinic, Duke Medical, and a host of other colleges/universities including Vanderbilt, Carnegie Mellon, and Harvard among many other well-known institutions. More locally, the New Rochelle School District utilizes NPBI.

Can the District Install MERV-13 or HEPA Filters in its Current Systems? 

Most, if not all, of our current systems across all six schools have the HVAC capacity designed for MERV-8 filters. Our air quality team of professionals does not recommend installing MERV-13 or HEPA filters in our current systems, as the units are not designed to handle this level of filter.  In fact , MERV-13 or HEPA filters would harm our mechanical systems and significantly reduce air flow by pushing lower amounts of fresh air into classrooms. Other concerns include the inability of the HEPA filters to operate effectively given the square footage of various indoor spaces, the significant noise of the units, and the space occupied by the units in the classroom.

Additional Resources/Further Background

WEBINAR - ASHRAE: COVID-19 and Solutions for Improving Indoor Air Quality - YouTube

ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force Recommendations

“GPS’s Unique Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization Technology Is Safe and Effective”

GPS: Case Studies of Real-World Testing Results
(Studies provide before and after air quality measures demonstrating how the ionization process captures airborne materials.) 

The State recommends accepting only the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test as the rapid antigen test is only accurate when used to test individuals who are symptomatic. The district will only accept negative COVID-19 results from a PCR test.  

The District will open September 9, 2021 for full in-person learning only.  Voluntary Full Remote learning will not be offered as an option this fall to students and families. For students in District-mandated COVID -19 isolation or quarantine, we will provide developmentally appropriate remote learning opportunities to maintain continuity of learning  on a temporary basis only.  In all other situations, remote learning will not be offered for absences.

 We recognize that a teacher’s primary responsibility is to focus on learning in the classroom. Thus, teachers must prioritize the delivery of instruction to students in class and support, to the extent practicable, learners under quarantine connecting to the classroom by Zoom.