Which schools have the best air filters?

Have a question about South Florida schools and COVID-19? Sun Sentinel reporter Lois Solomon will find the answer. Submit your question at SunSentinel.com/ AskLois.

“With regard to

theMERV-13 filters placed in mostPalm Beach County schools: While this is good, the effectiveness requires adequate ventilation rates for circulation. Howdo you find out which schools have the better filters and what are the ventilation rates for classrooms?” — ElliotWeinstock, Boynton Beach

The Palm Beach County School District seems to be paying close attention to air filters. I wasn’t able to get a list of which schools have

theMERV-13s, but the district has been buying as many as they can, and installing them in buildings where they fit.

TheMERV rating system measures a filter’s power to capture particles in the air; the higher the rating, the smaller the particles, including bacteria and viruses, the filter is able to trap.

“MERV-11HVAC system air filters are being replaced with

MERV-13 filters wherever air conditioning design allows (without negatively affecting airflow, and in full compliance withHVAC equipment manufacturer requirements),” a district spokeswoman told me. “For the schools not being upgraded to

MERV-13 filters, 1-inch filters will be changed every 30 days, instead of every 45 days, and

2-inch filters will be changed every 60 days, instead of 90 days. The

newMERV-13 filters will be changed every 90 days.”

In addition: “If a filter slated for replacement with aMERV-13 filter has not been changed recently (1-inch filters within 30 days and

2-inch filters within 60 days), the district will make sure it is replaced with a new filter until

theMERV-13 filter is installed,” she said.

As for ventilation rates, which measure how often the air changes over the course of an hour, the district doesn’t calculate the rates at schools regularly, more on an as-needed basis, said StaceyMarshall, director of facility services.

“Many teachers seeking an Americanswith DisabilitiesAct accommodation inBroward County have gotten letters fromtheir doctors that say explicitly that they should not return to school andshould continue towork fromhome. TheBrowardCounty school district has asked for detailed medical records. Do theyhave the right to that private information?”— Jay Ryman, Miramar

The Broward school district has approved about 800 requests from teacherswhowant to work remotely, out of about 5,000who have applied. The district gave priority to teacherswho have health conditions that put them at high risk for serious illness or death should they get infected withCOVID19, such as cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, obesity andType 2 diabetes. These are devastating diseases that employees may notwant to tell their bosses about.

I asked Fort Lauderdale employment lawyer DonnaBallman, author of “StandUp ForYourselfWithout Getting Fired,” what the district is allowed to ask for. Here’s what she said:

“It cannot ask for the employee’s entire medical history because that could disclose medical information having nothing to do with the disability in question. Instead, the employermay request medical information needed to determine if there is a disability, only if the disability is not obvious. Theymay also request medical information to determine the expected length of the impairment, what limitations the employee has, and what accommodation or accommodations are needed.”

So it sounds like the district is entitled to information specifically related to the illness that prevents the teacher from working in the classroom during the pandemic. It’s a bureaucratic slog, but I hope the teacherswho are truly at risk are able to get the documentation they need so they can keep teaching and stay healthy.