Air Quality

How AQI affects schools

During the long "dog days of summer," the intense heat can dry out the surrounding forests and lead to significant wildfires.  With wildfires come smoke and poor air quality.

• Recess and outdoor sports practices and athletic events can continue up to 150
• Schools should consider rescheduling to a different time and/or area with a lower AQI when the AQI is between 101‐150
• Cancelation is required for all outdoor events when AQI reaches 151

Where does HRCSD receive its air quality readings?

Our school district is committed to protecting student and staff health by monitoring localized air quality in real time. Each school site is equipped with PurpleAir air quality monitors installed both outdoors (to track ambient conditions and wildfire smoke) and indoors (to track classroom/facility air filtration performance).

• Localized Data: EPA regulatory monitors are often miles away. PurpleAir sensors give us hyperlocal, real-time measurements right at our campus locations.

• Indoor vs. Outdoor Comparison: Outdoor sensors measure overall community air conditions. Indoor sensors verify that our HVAC filtration systems (MERV 13+) and air purifiers are keeping indoor air safe.

• Real-Time Decision Making: Administrators reference sensor data to make immediate calls regarding outdoor recess, P.E., athletics, and classroom air management during high-AQI events (such as wildfire smoke).

Step 1: Open the District Air Map

1. Go to the PurpleAir Map.

2. Search for our school district name or city in the search bar, or navigate to your specific school campus on the map.

Step 2: Distinguish Indoor vs. Outdoor Sensors

• Outdoor Sensors: Rendered as solid circles on the map.

• Indoor Sensors: Rendered as circles with a black ring/border around them.

Step 3: Apply the US EPA Correction Factor (Crucial Step)

PurpleAir monitors use laser particle counters that overestimate particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$) density compared to official EPA instruments. You must apply the EPA correction factor to match official EPA AirNow standards:

1. Click the Map Settings menu (gear icon ⚙️ in the bottom-left corner).

2. Under Select Data Layer, ensure US EPA PM2.5 AQI (or PM2.5) is selected.

3. Find the Apply Conversion dropdown menu.

4. Select US EPA (this applies the EPA's Barkjohn et al. correction formula for wildfire smoke and ambient PM2.5).

5. Under Averaging, set the time frame (default is Real-Time; select 10-Minute or 1-Hour for smoother, more stable readings).

Community Action Reference Chart by AQI Level

Air Quality Index (AQI)	Category	Activity and Operations Impact	School and Community Actions
0 - 50	Good	Normal activities Standard outdoor activities and class operations	No special monitoring actions required
51 - 100	Moderate	Caution advised Staff encourages caution for youth with underlying health conditions during short/medium activities Caution advised for all youth during long duration activities (4+ hours)	Safety director monitors weather patterns and air quality 2-3 times daily Outdoor activities proceed with close monitoring
101 - 150	Unhealthy for sensitive groups	Modified activities Limit activity intensity for all youth across all durations Consider canceling or moving events indoors if intensity or duration cannot be modified	Notifications: Communications sent to students, parents, and staff via ParentSquare detailing AQI level, health risks, and protection links Staff protection: Oregon OSHA guidelines triggered for outdoor workers; voluntary mask use and work communication systems enacted
151 - 200	Unhealthy	Outdoor activities restricted Cancel all outdoor recess and extracurricular / after-school activities Move activities indoors to safer air quality areas for all children, regardless of duration	Staff protection: HRCSD provides NIOSH-approved N95 respirators for adult staff and volunteers working outdoors in accordance with Oregon OSHA guidelines. All previous communication notifications and actions continue
201-300	Very unhealthy	All outdoor events canceled Cancel all outdoor activities or relocate indoors to safe air spaces for all youth at any duration	Staff protection: HRCSD provides NIOSH-approved N95 respirators for adult staff and volunteers working outdoors in accordance with Oregon OSHA guidelines. All previous communication notifications and actions continue
301+	Hazardous	Potential school closure Cancel all outdoor events District heavily evaluates canceling school operations entirely, auditing indoor building air quality, cooling, and water access	Staff protection: HRCSD provides NIOSH-approved N95 respirators for adult staff and volunteers working outdoors in accordance with Oregon OSHA guidelines. All previous communication notifications and actions continue

 

What else should we know about air quality?

• The HRCSD Safety Director monitors AQI regularly: early morning, noon, and late afternoon.
• The HRCSD Safety Director send out guidance when it changes categories.
• You can monitor yourself by using PurpleAir
• Communication and consistency are essential.
• Guidance applies to all groups using HRCSD facilities/fields
• Conditions can change quickly – be prepared to pivot.
• We will be as reasonable as possible; our priority is first and foremost student, staff, athlete, and spectator safety.
• The HRCSD Facilities Department will close fresh air intakes when necessary.
• Doors and windows should remain closed to reduce the amount of smoke that enters into schools.
• The HRCSD Facilities Department changes HVAC filter 3-4 times per year with MERV 13 filters 
• Hood River County also has air scrubbers and HRCSD has air purifiers that we can deploy into schools when necessary.

Indoor Air Quality and School Closure Considerations

School closures are a last resort and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In HRCSD, if indoor air quality approaches an AQI of 151 ("Unhealthy" threshold), district leadership closely evaluates whether to keep a school open.

Because indoor air quality changes dynamically throughout the day, hitting an indoor AQI of 151 does not mean an automatic closure. Instead, it serves as a decision trigger for district leadership to evaluate several key factors:

• Air Quality and Weather Forecasts: Is the smoke expected to clear or shift within the next few hours based on wind and weather patterns?

• Temperature and Heat: Are high indoor/outdoor temperatures compounding the health risks of poor air quality?

• Indoor Mitigation Capabilities: Can HVAC adjustments, closed air dampers, deployed air scrubbers, or classroom air purifiers successfully pull indoor smoke levels back down?

• Student Safety: Are students safer inside a filtered school environment than they would be at home or in the community?