While air quality in Utah hasn’t been at the forefront this year like last year, it remains an issue we keep an eye on.
Current guidelines indicate that when the PM (Particulate Matter) goes above the 55.4 mark or 150 AQI (Air Quality Index) levels, all students (including athletes) will remain indoors. School administrators, coaches, and district officials monitor these conditions and make decisions on outdoor activities and events on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis.
MCSD benefits from valued partnerships with state experts on issues related to health. Recently, the Utah Department of Health (Asthma Program) and the Utah Department of Air Quality partnered to create Recess Guidelines for Schools (click here for Spanish version). This, coupled with a simple visual index, helps school officials make important decisions regarding air quality issues.
Murray families can monitor conditions themselves at the Utah Department of Air Quality’s current conditions website: https://air.utah.gov/
If parents request their student or athlete stay inside because of underlying health concerns (including respiratory issues) or if they have a doctor’s note, school officials will make adjustments and/or communicate with families regarding their unique circumstances.
The Utah Asthma program offers several resources for families in Utah. These include tips for indoor activities, doctor recommendations, and email alerts on daily air quality monitoring.
As educators, our goal is to ensure the health and safety of all students under the expertise, guidelines, and laws set forth by our local and state experts, coupled with the swift action of our coaches, teachers, and administrators.
