Georgia District Installs Disinfection Devices on Buses

The Meriwether County School District in Greenville, Ga., announced this week that its school board has voted to install disinfection devices on buses. The devices are capable of reducing up to 99.96% of harmful viruses that travel via air and by surface transmission, including SARS-CoV-2.

“We were at risk of losing bus drivers due to fear of COVID,” said Dr. Robert Griffin, Meriwether Superintendent. “Now we can load, travel and unload our buses knowing the air and surfaces are disinfected.”

The school board has purchased 113 CASPR (Continuous Air and Surface Pathogen Reduction) transit units from the Atlanta-based BioShark. According to a press release, the CASPR units convert natural airflow into low levels of gaseous hydrogen peroxide. The device runs continuously while the vehicle is in operation and will replace the current methods of chemical spraying and cleaning the fleet of buses.

“Our goal is to provide peace of mind for students, parents, staff and bus drivers to breathe the air and touch the surfaces without fear,” said BioShark’s Shannon Grube. “This will result in savings by reducing substitute bus drivers and teachers.”

According to the news release, the device does not leave a residue or have a corrosive effect on bus metals or seats. Officials anticipate that this will also help reduce bus maintenance expenses.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Sam Houston State University Completes Athletic Stadium Renovations

    Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, recently announced the reopening of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium after an extensive renovation project, according to a news release. The university partnered with Stantec and DLR Group for the project’s design.

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.

  • University of Pittsburgh to Build New Residence Hall

    The Board of Trustees from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently approved the construction of a new residence hall for first-year students, according to university news.

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.