This summer, Arlington Public Schools installed two sensors to better test air quality in the area. Previously, the district relied on the Washington State Department of Ecology air quality monitor in Marysville, which is the closest monitor to Arlington. Due to the distance and changes in elevation, these readings don’t always accurately reflect the true air quality in Arlington.
“Due to last summer’s Bolt Creek fire and wildfires that burned near Spokane and Diablo this summer, air quality is a concern for our region,” said Krissa Cramer, District Nurse. “We want to make sure that the air quality readings we’re receiving are accurate in case we need to modify activities to keep students and staff safe.”
Sensors were installed at the District Office on French Avenue and at Arlington High School on Crown Ridge Blvd.
The district website and every school home page has a
link to the air quality monitoring webpage. The landing page shows the current air quality readings and provides a Washington Children and Youth Activities Guide for Air Quality. The guide provides thresholds for air quality that define outdoor activities that youth can participate in while at school.