There were no major air quality problems detected at Sippican School following a recent test.

The school district was prompted to test the air quality after teachers reported getting nose bleeds and other respiratory problems earlier in the school year.

Mike Feeney, of the Department of Public Health, said the test, done in March, did show some issues but there were no major problems detected in the assessment. The air quality is judged by looking at a building’s ventilation system,  water damage and evidence of environmental irritants.

One of the problems Feeney found was with the exhaust vents. The motors were running, but broken belts prevented the fans from turning. Feeney said the broken belts were probably due to the harsh winters.

"The cold damages the rubber," he said. "The fans and ventilation systems should be checked and rebalanced every five years to ensure adequate system functions."

Another issue he found was with vents inside the classrooms. Many of the vents had items stored on top of them, which causes the irritants from those items to be circulated around the room. Feeney advised removing items from the vents to improve the air quality.

He also tested for certain gases in the air, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. There were no signs of carbon monoxide, but carbon dioxide levels were slightly higher than usual in some areas. Feeney emphasized that this is not necessarily a problem in itself, but that it could be if combined with other air quality issues. The levels were such that he suggested improving the ventilation system.

Feeney's last concern was the water damage that he found inside the school. Water damage causes mold growth, and while what he found inside the school wasn’t extensive, he did find water damage on roof tiles, insulation pipes and chilled water pipes inside the school.

Feeney suggested the school deactivate the main air conditioning unit during the summer, open crawlspaces, operate supply and exhaust ventilation systems, examine the feasibility of providing mechanical exhaust ventilation and remove the blockages from air vents throughout the building.

The school committee thanked Feeney for his thorough assessment of the school

"We really appreciate your time and hard work," chair Christine Marcolini said.

In other news:

The committee estimates it will end the fiscal year with a two percent surplus in its budget. The budget currently sits at $226,000 with a four percent surplus, but money for special education programs and scholarships will bring that down to two percent.