Credit Fox 4

MAYPEARL, Texas — Maypearl ISD leaders hosted a special meeting for parents on Wednesday following concerns about poor air quality at Maypearl Primary School.

Rachel Girard, a concerned parent, announced that she would be withdrawing her daughter from the school due to elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. “We should not have to worry about the air that our children are breathing at school,” another parent remarked during the meeting.

Many parents shared similar concerns, reporting that their children have been experiencing headaches, nausea, and fatigue after attending school. Girard raised her concerns with district officials in November 2024.

The district confirmed that air quality tests conducted in November 2024 found high levels of CO2. In response, the city of Maypearl confirmed that the police and fire chief had ordered the school to close last week due to air quality issues. The school reopened on Wednesday.

Superintendent Richie Bowling explained during the meeting that engineers had repaired the school’s HVAC system, replaced damaged vents, and changed the HVAC filters. According to Bowling, recent tests showed CO2 levels had decreased to below 1,000 parts per million (ppm). “CO2 levels are not elevating as rapidly. However, they can still rise when there are a lot of people in a room,” he said.

Despite these efforts, further repairs to the ductwork are needed. The district expects the ductwork to be completed by March 21, although Bowling hopes for an earlier resolution. In the meantime, some classroom windows will be opened as a temporary measure.

Bowling also confirmed that the fire department has not conducted tests to verify the air quality’s safety, explaining, “My understanding is they don’t have the ability to do that.”

If the air quality issue remains unresolved, Bowling stated that the district would begin making plans to relocate students. Several parents, including Girard, have decided to homeschool their children instead.

“This whole situation is so sad for the staff, students, and parents,” Girard said. “It all could’ve been prevented by doing your duty as leaders of this district.”