Council bosses at West Dunbartonshire are being encouraged to look again at ventilation systems in schools following concerns about the spread of coronavirus in classrooms.
Last December a motion was agreed by Labour councillor Martin Rooney which asked council officers to note the types of ventilation systems in schools and nurseries and the process in place for monitoring CO2 levels.
It also called for a further report to be presented to full council with more detail on the adequacy of ventilation ventilation system in schools and the cost of improving them.
READ MORE: West Dunbartonshire school covid ventilation systems to be checked
Yesterday members were informed that following the review of the ventilation system officers believed they are sufficient and compliant at this moment in time. No issues with the current system emerged and the cost to install mechanical ventilation in new buildings could be in the region of £290,000 per building.
Labour councillor and leader of the opposition Martin Rooney said: “The big thing for us as a group is the ventilation in the classroom. We know they are relatively small and enclosed places.
“Normally the only thing you can do is open a window, open the door or cut the bottom off the door. The report is fine but the most important thing for us is to look at what we can do in the classroom.
“I don’t have an issue with teachers opening the windows but if we are in the middle of the winter and the classrooms are warm and stuffy and noone is opening the windows.
“That’s why the ventilation system was highlighted right at the beginning of the pandemic by the health and safety executive. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of ventilation in classrooms.
“As long as we get a report coming back to the future council and focus on improving the situation with mechanical or electrical ventilation in classrooms as a means of ventilating in poor weather conditions.”
Councillor Rooney was informed by chairwoman Depute Provost Karen Conaghan that he was misreading the report that stated the ventilation was adequate and no further action needed.
Councillor Rooney responded : “I do think we can do more and in that case I move continuation of this item to get a more detailed breakdown on what happens in classrooms in the winter.
“Over the last two years we have had the option to ventilate classrooms and we chose not to. At some point we need to bring the rest of the classrooms up to the same level of ventilation and not just open the window.”
Following a brief discussion it was agreed that another report and assessment would be brought before council following the election.
