Dayton, Farmington donate unused CARES Act money
The town of Dayton donated their unused CARES Act dollars to the Waupaca School District.
The $24,230 donation will go toward the HVAC ionization system the district has purchased to help mitigate COVID-19.
Recently, the town of Farmington used their unspent CARES Act money to purchase $9,830 worth of hover camera equipment. The funds will help the Waupaca School District with online remote learning.
Matt Vassar, the district’s building and grounds coordinator, said his “research into how to keep fresh air flow in the school buildings during COVID led him to identify this system and all of the benefits ionization of air provides.”
The long-term investment in the ionization system eliminates airborne pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, as well as allergens from the air in each of the district’s four buildings.
“All leading to significantly cleaner and healthier indoor air quality,” said Carl Hayek, the district’s director of business services.
“These systems are currently in place at Johns Hopkins Hospital, as well as several other hospitals around the country, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and the Whitehouse. The health and safety of our students, staff, and community are paramount, Hayek said.
Waupaca School Board President Steve Johnson noted, “This long term investment will produce clean air for many years to come and the District anticipates this system will reduce student and employee absentee rates now and into the future.”
“We are very thankful and grateful for the generosity of our area municipalities who have donated their unused CARES Act funds back to our community, instead of letting it go back to the state where it would most likely then get redistributed to other communities,” said District Administrator Ron Saari.