Menomonee Falls school district to install needlepoint bipolar ionization technology to kill coronavirus

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The School District of Menomonee Falls announced it will install needlepoint bipolar ionization technology in its air-handling units to kill pathogens, including the coronavirus, flu, and mold, to improve indoor air quality, according to officials.

The system, along with other mitigation efforts, is said to help SDMF continue to maximize face-to-face learning.

“The needlepoint bipolar ionization system will help ensure the safety of our students and staff by dramatically increasing the filtering efficiency of the existing HVAC systems,” said Rick Fechter, director of facilities for the School District of Menomonee Falls. “The needlepoint bipolar ionization system will be another great addition to our increased mitigation efforts to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and flu in our schools using the best practices and technology available.” 

SDMF officials say the installation of the system across approximately 930,000 square-feet of classrooms, gymnasiums, cafeterias, and offices, including the Community Center, is expected to be fully operational within six to eight weeks.

No additional taxpayer money will be used to fund the $600,000 system. 

Officials say a one-time cost investment of carryover funds from a portion of the $3.5 million 2019-20 year-end surplus. 

SDMF says the system has an expected useful life of 12-15 years with a partial payback on the investment through reduced energy costs. 

“Safety is our top priority,” Fechter said. “The system will work to destroy harmful particles in the air and help keep our students, staff, and community members safe.”

Click here to see how needlepoint bipolar ionization works.