Daleville – The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors allocated nearly $300,000 from its Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for the purchase and installation of new plasma generators for the county schools’ HVAC systems.
Supervisors said the school division “will purchase plasma generator equipment for all the school buildings ….” The school district’s website lists 12 schools – seven elementary, two middle and two high schools and a vocational school.
School Board member Tim Davidick said purchasing the equipment is a step towards students returning to in-classroom instructions. “In the midst of this pandemic we are trying to figure out ways to safely return our children to in-person instructions more days per week,” he said. At its Sept. 23 meeting, the School Board voted Wednesdays will remain a remote learning day.
The county described the plasma generators as “state-of the-art” technology that cleans the air by killing or reducing viruses and bacteria, including air particles responsible for COVID-19, influenza and viruses that cause the common cold.
The plasma generators are expected to be installed before the end of the academic year.
