Parents ask Ottawa’s largest school board to monitor air quality

As children are on the list of those most affected by wildfire smoke, some parents are concerned about sending their kids to school due to poor air quality.

During Tuesday night’s Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) budget meeting, Ecology Ottawa Board Chair Katie Gibbs requested that funds go to ensure better ventilation in schools.

“It’s only going to be increasing from here on out, and it’s so new to see it this early when schools are actually still in session,” Gibbs told CityNews. “It’s not even summer vacation yet, and we’re dealing with smoke this bad.”

Ottawa’s Air Quality Index was at a 10-plus, Tuesday afternoon — the second consecutive day it hit that height — making it the worst air quality reading in Canada.

“Absences due to illness continue to be a challenge for students and staff,” Gibbs wrote in a delegation letter to the school board. “Ventilation and air filtration are easy ways to keep kids and teachers healthy and in school.”

She asked that schools that purchase high quality HEPA filters and regularly test CO2 levels.

Another member brought up similar concerns during the meeting, saying that trustees should consider “regular monitoring of CO2 in classrooms and other student-used spaces (e.g. music rooms; gyms), and regular, public disclosure of the results so that families can make informed decisions about precautions for their children.”

On Wednesday, June 7, all school athletics and outdoor recesses were cancelled by the (OCDSB), saying that it will continue to monitor the situation.