La Porte Schools Installing High Tech Air Filtration on Buses

When students in the La Porte Community School Corp. ride the bus next fall, the air they breath during the trip should be improved and safer. The school corporation is partnering with Indianapolis-based Lumin-Air to install its filtration system in the district’s school buses.

Inside INdiana Business has previously reported on the company that developed the system that cleans recirculated air and removes airborne contaminants.

The technology uses MERV-13 equivalent filters and UV-C lighting in a fully contained enclosure.

“Cleaning and filtering the air on our school buses is another layer of protection in helping to mitigate the spread of illness while better protecting our students and drivers,” said Cary Brinkman, transportation director for LPCSC.

The company was founded in 2020 and promoted its ultraviolet technology as a way to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 (COVID), influenza and other respiratory viruses.

The company said the technology was particularly relevant for school buses, where children and drivers sit in an enclosed space for an extended period.

“School buses have historically been the safest way to travel to and from school, but they are also the most densely occupied spaces in a school system with the poorest air quality,” said Dan Fillenwarth, Lumin-Air president.

The La Porte Community School Corp. has 11 schools and serve over 6,500 students.