Bay Area Air District funds $4M to improve air quality at 14 schools

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) –The Bay Area Air District announced on Wednesday that its board of directors has approved $4 million in funding to support home and air filtration programs that will benefit up to 14 area schools, including upgrades at schools in Bayview-Hunters Point in San Francisco.

As part of the incentive, up to $1.3 million of improvements will come to public schools in Richmond, North Richmond, San Pablo and Tara Hills, said the Bay Area Air District. Another $1.7 million will be used for bolstering air filtration upgrades in schools in Bayview-Hunters Point in San Francisco and $1 million will be used for the Air District’s Home Air Filtration program.

“These upgrades will provide safer, healthier classrooms, which are essential to student learning and well-being,” said Dr. Philip Fine, executive officer of the Air District. “This action reflects our agency’s commitment to environmental justice by reducing exposure to air pollution for some of our most vulnerable populations.”

The funding will back “high-efficiency air filtration retrofits and five years of filter replacements in up to 14 public schools” in Richmond, North Richmond, San Pablo and Tara Hills — without any cost to the West Contra Costa Unified School District.

“Investments like this strengthen our schools and help us create healthier learning environments where students can thrive,” added Dr. Kim Moses, interim superintendent of the West Contra Costa Unified School District.