Board approves purchase of portable air purifiers after public pressure and staff briefing

The San Francisco Board of Education on Aug. 24 approved a request to purchase portable air cleaners for classrooms and some administrative sites, responding to weeks of public pressure and questions from board members about distribution and upkeep.

Commissioner Shanelle Collins, who had led calls for a comprehensive safety roadmap, opened discussion by noting the purchase is “just 1 part of a larger whole” and urged a written plan describing air-quality steps, testing access and instructional supports for students who quarantine. “We will be getting air pure purifiers in classrooms,” she said during the meeting's opening remarks.

Chief of facilities Don Kamala Nopton told the board the contract would enable the district to place an order immediately if the board approves the appropriation. He described two guiding priorities for distribution: equity (prioritizing communities with environmental-justice and air-quality needs) and operational feasibility (sites that have recently been modernized and have suitable electrical capacity). He said staff expects to share a refined prioritization and rollout plan in about a week to 10 days and expected an initial distribution to begin within roughly two weeks if the order is placed.

Board members pressed staff for operational details: which sites and nonclassroom spaces would be covered, whether the appropriation would equip every classroom, how replacements and maintenance would be handled, and whether units report filter status. Chief Kamala said the devices selected use HEPA filtration, are sized to cover typical classrooms (he cited coverage up to about 1,500 square feet for the larger models), and were chosen for energy efficiency and durability. He said the district maintains an inventory database that will list installation dates and filter types to schedule replacements; mechanical-system filters have a committed six-month replacement cycle.

Public commenters — including teachers, site administrators and parents — repeatedly urged rapid distribution and asked the district to prioritize schools with the greatest health need. A caller alleged the district had accepted a no-bid contract for filters the prior week; on that point an unidentified commenter said the district “solicited and accepted a no bid contract on HEPA filters,” a claim staff did not corroborate during the meeting and which remained unresolved in the public record.

The board voted by roll call to approve item 52 (the purchase of portable air purifiers from Westco Distribution). Chief Kamala and board members said they expect additional funding requests later in September to address remaining gaps in coverage.

The district plans to publish a distribution plan and to return to the board with more detail on which schools and multi-occupancy spaces will receive devices first, a maintenance calendar, and any subsequent funding requests.