Press Releases

05/20/2024

DAS announces $122 million in grants to public schools for HVAC system upgrades

(HARTFORD, CT) – Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Commissioner Michelle Gilman today announced $122 million in grant awards for public schools throughout Connecticut to make upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. 

 

The grants are being awarded through the HVAC Indoor Air Quality Grants Program for Public Schools, a state program that is administered by DAS. It was created as part of the budget adjustment bill that Governor Lamont signed into law in 2022 (Public Act 22-118). In fiscal year 2023, DAS committed $56 million to projects across the state to address indoor air quality in school buildings. 

 

These $122 million in grants represent the second round of funding released through this program. The application period opened on September 8, 2023, and school districts seeking grants were required to submit applications to the state by December 31, 2023. Municipalities are required to provide matching funds, based on their school construction reimbursement rate, to support the project costs.  

 

Examples of eligible projects include: 

• Replacing, upgrading, or repairing boilers and other heating and ventilation components; 
• Replacing controls and technology systems related to HVAC operations; 
• Installing or upgrading air conditioning or ventilation systems; and 
• Other improvements to indoor air quality.  

 

DAS worked to improve processes since the first round of the program, and these improvements included significant additional outreach to all districts, including Alliance districts. As a result, 41% of the funding in the second round is awarded to Alliance districts, and 54% of the funding is awarded to districts that fall below the state’s median measure of wealth based on the State Department of Education’s AENGLC ranking of school districts. 

 

Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said: “Helping school districts achieve a high level of indoor air quality in our public schools is an important investment. Beyond keeping students and staff healthy by filtering the air and reducing airborne contaminants, HVAC systems make our schools more hospitable learning environments during extreme heat and cold weather events. This second round of funding will help more than 100 schools install, upgrade, or replace HVAC systems.” 

 

Commissioner Gilman said: “The Department of Administrative Services team is proud to award the second round of grants for this critical program to improve indoor air quality in schools and support Connecticut’s students, staff, and families. The DAS team worked diligently to make improvements to the program over the past year, which is illustrated by the fact that we are awarding more than twice as much in grant funding to more than twice as many schools in the second round. This is a testament to the collaboration between Governor Lamont and Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, our legislative partners, agency colleagues, union and municipal leadership, and other advocates to ensure our schools are equipped with modernized ventilation systems to promote healthy air quality.” 

 

State Department of Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker said: “The Connecticut State Department of Education remains dedicated to fostering environments that support educational success. Governor Lamont’s commitment to investing in the improvement of indoor air quality in our schools is commendable. By allocating over $122 million in grant awards for HVAC upgrades, we are ensuring that our educational settings are safe, healthy, and benefit the physical health of our students and staff to provide the best conditions for learning.” 

 

Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, said: “Having proper ventilation in our schools is vital to keeping our children healthy in their school environment. Suitable air circulation reduces the impact of viral respiratory diseases on our students, faculty and staff. On behalf of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, congratulations to all the award recipients and thank you for your commitment to the health and wellness of our communities.” 

 

State Sen. Julie Kushner, co-chair of the Indoor Air Quality Task Force, said: “Learning and teaching environments in our public schools are greatly enhanced when classrooms have clean air and temperatures are moderated. We are so grateful to the Governor and his team at the Department of Administrative Services for prioritizing the updating and installation of HVAC systems in our schools through this grant program. More than $100 million will make a real difference. However, we’re not done. The Working Group on Indoor Air Quality in Public Schools has been renewed through 2030.  Our goal is to ensure every student in Connecticut has the opportunity to learn in ideal classroom conditions.”

 

State Rep. Jennifer Leeper, co-chair of the Indoor Air Quality Task Force, said: "It's been an honor to partner with clean air advocates and co-chair the Indoor Air Quality in Schools Working Group with Sen. Kushner to make meaningful improvements to the quality of air our students and staff experience in our schools. With old facilities and steep price tags, this has been a difficult challenge to tackle but thanks to the historic investment from Governor Lamont, we have empowered hundreds of schools to make significant HVAC improvements enabling healthier schools and better learning environments." 

 

State Rep. Jeff Currey, co-chair of the Education Committee, said: “Creating and maintaining healthier learning environments for students, teachers and staff is a paramount concern, so I want to thank Education Committee Vice Chair Rep. Jennifer Leeper, who has worked tirelessly as co-chair of the Indoor Air Quality Working Group, and Commissioner Gilman and her team at DAS for helping to enhance the air quality flow and temperatures within in our schools.” 

 

Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, said: “A healthy physical environment in a school is foundational to learning. These grants promote healthy air for our students and staff. Although there is much more work to be done, we are all very appreciative of the continuing support that this funding provides.”  

 

East Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Anderson said: “East Hartford Public Schools is grateful for the $773,000 in grant funding we were awarded to support two necessary air quality projects at our schools. These funds will go toward infrastructure work to construct a new ventilation system for 25 elementary school classrooms and to replace rooftop HVAC units at our largest high school with a student population of nearly 1,800 students. This is the type of facilities work that often goes unnoticed, but is crucial to keeping our teaching and learning spaces safe and comfortable so our students and staff can do their best.”

Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association (CEA), said: “CEA applauds the work of DAS and the approval of $122 million to reimburse CT public schools for upgrades to their HVAC systems. Currently, over 935 schools in Connecticut have HVAC systems that are broken, failing, or in need of replacement. Across our state, students and teachers must endure sweltering days in the summer and have to bundle up during the long winter months. Sick buildings threaten our health and cost our communities precious resources to mitigate. These funds are not a silver bullet solution to all our school air quality problems –local boards of education still have a responsibility to maintain their schools. These grants are a step towards helping municipalities provide cleaner, healthier air in schools that need it the most, and that’s a breath of fresh air for all of us.” 

 

 

 

 

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Contact Information:

LEIGH APPLEBY (he/him/his)

Director of Communications

Connecticut Administrative Services

Call/text: 860-373-1427

leigh.appleby@ct.gov 

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