Selected classrooms in the schools sponsored by the district are to be equipped with mobile air purifiers by the end of October.
The district council agreed on this after a heated debate.
District
- It was a good thing that the District Office had a battery of different air purification systems carted into the deep tunnel hall in Peißenberg so that the district councils could get an idea of the devices and the noise that they are causing (or not).
In addition to the obvious informative aspect, the air purifiers also ensured that, despite the heated debate, there was no shortage of oxygen in the hall and that everyone could keep a reasonably cool head.
District administrator and chamberlain have doubts about air purification devices
District Administrator Andrea Jochner-Weiß made the start: "If we all knew that the devices really protect and prevent schools from staying open in autumn, we would certainly all agree immediately," she said.
But even virologists do not agree on whether the mobile air purifiers work or not.
"It would be best if we had permanently installed ventilation systems everywhere, like at the grammar schools in Weilheim and Schongau," said the district administrator.
However, these would cost between 10,000 and 15,000 euros per room and could not be installed at short notice.
District treasurer Norbert Merk once again did not make a murder pit out of his heart in this matter.
In 40 years of service he had never seen anything like it, he said before attempting to explain the current situation to the district councilors in his speech.
With an emphasis on “current”, because something changes almost every day, according to Merk.
He reported on the funding opportunities - the Free State contributes a maximum of 1750 euros per device, the federal government adds another 175 euros.
Merk also pointed out that the actual costs would be significantly higher.
"Calculated over a useful life of four years, we get around 5000 euros for a device with a HEPA air filter, with a UV-C device, which has recently been approved, we would be 3200 euros for this period."
These costs “reflect the status now.
It remains to be seen how device prices will develop if, due to the 'economic stimulus package for the air purification industry' from the Free State of Bavaria, everyone orders such devices at the same time, ”said Merk.
Chamberlain criticizes study on air purifiers
The district treasurer went hard into court with the study by the Bundeswehr University in Neubiberg, which is currently "being dug out over and over again to prove the effectiveness of the systems".
This study is based on data that the manufacturers of air purifiers have provided themselves and was financed through third-party funding from said providers, Merk said.
He also pointed out again that "if we buy the devices with subsidies, they have to be operated for three years". If it is too loud for individual teachers because the devices have to run at full load to circulate the necessary air volumes and the devices are switched off, then “we would have to pay the money back. And they control it, the devices have an operating hours record, ”says Merk.
In the end, the district council has to decide, he said.
There are three variants.
First, you don't buy air purifiers at all.
Second: Each of the 550 classrooms is equipped with such a device, but under the condition that the Free State guarantees that no schools will be closed in the fall.
Or, variant 3: only those classrooms that are difficult to ventilate are equipped.
A planning office checks what these are.
Merk reckons with this variant that 15 to 25 percent of all classrooms would be equipped with an air purifier.
Air purifiers for schools in the Weilheim-Schongau district?
Heated debate
The debate that followed was heated.
For Markus Bader (SPD / Rottenbuch) the question of proportionality arose: "This is just a substitute act." Children and young people are not the drivers of the pandemic.
If these are infected, "but show no symptoms, then one cannot speak of a disease." In addition, the immune system of children has to develop: "We do not want the schools to be free of viruses, germs and pollen." Also from an ecological point of view Buying the air purifier would be nonsense: "We will only buy tomorrow's electronic waste today."
That earned him sharp criticism, including from Peter Maier (Linke / Penzberg): “Corona is not a cold.
And the children have already suffered enough from the pandemic. "
District Councilor Markus Kunzendorf (ÖDP / Oberhausen) once again advocated the Max Planck Society's self-made solution, which Merk had recently called a “handicraft solution” once more. Merk replied sharply: “Who should install these things? So far, I've got the offer from a man who wants to install it in a classroom. ”If you rely on this solution, you have to commission specialist companies to have each classroom tested for fire protection - without subsidies. “That is by no means cheaper,” he predicted.
Kerstin Engel (Grüne / Penzberg) saw the installation of the air purifier as an important step to contain the pandemic. Otherwise, the children would infect their parents and grandparents because the vaccination does not work, Engel said. That earned her a rebuke from the district administrator: "If you want to protect society, you should get vaccinated."
So the debate waved back and forth for a long time. In the end, only parts of the SPD and the AfD were in favor of not buying any air purifiers. Five district councils - including several CSU members - wanted to equip all of the classrooms. The overwhelming majority were in favor of option 3: A planner determines which classrooms are difficult to ventilate. These are equipped with air purifiers. The deadline for this was set for October 30th. In addition, it was decided that in all future general renovations and new buildings in the school area, the aim should be to install professional ventilation systems. It is unclear where the money for the implementation of the resolution will come from. Chamberlain Norbert Merk announced budget freezes and a supplement.