Board receives indoor air quality reports and approves SPIRAL international trip

The New London Board of Education on Nov. 10 accepted Indoor Air Quality reports for multiple schools and approved a proposed SPIRAL international trip after a brief discussion about affordability.

Board member Susan Hambey reported the School Facilities & Program Design Committee reviewed indoor air quality reports; Jennings and Winthrop reports remain outstanding. Committee members said corrective actions that are possible are underway and that the district is not commissioning an additional full IAQ report at this time because a new report would cost about $200,000. The committee noted that IAQ reporting is required every five years.

During the consent agenda process the SPIRAL international trip was pulled for discussion. Hambey asked how the district would ensure underserved students could afford participation. Janet Farquhar, Director of Magnet Pathways, said the trip has a $200 discount for students enrolled in Chinese classes, reducing their cost to $300, and that fundraising opportunities would be available. The motion to approve the trip carried 5‑0.

The board recorded the consent agenda vote as unanimous among members present and directed administration to file IAQ reports in the record; the minutes note the full IAQ packet is available upon request.