Portland Schools to Donate 2,000 Air Purifiers to Los Angeles

Having a surplus is a stark change from a few years ago.

The reflection of a burned down home is reflected in a fireman's sunglasses during the aftermath of the Palisades Fire on Friday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Michael Nigro/Pacific Press) (Alamy Stock Photo)
By Joanna Hou

In the wake of catastrophic fires in L.A., the Los Angeles Unified School District put out a call for more portable air purifiers. An unlikely district will answer: Portland Public Schools stands ready to donate a majority of its stock.

That’s a stark change from a few years ago, when a May 2022 investigation by The Oregonian revealed that about 500, or 25%, of the district’s elementary and middle school classrooms didn’t meet minimum targets for indoor airflow. Another 750 didn’t meet the levels recommended by air quality experts—who said poor ventilation could affect the spread of disease and hurt student learning.

Backlash from concerned parents culminated in the Oregon Health Authority giving the district 3,500 portable air purifiers in May 2023.

At a special School Board meeting Jan. 13, PPS Superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong proposed a resolution to donate 2,000 of the district’s remaining 2,600 air purifiers to L.A. Unified.

“All of our schools, all of our classrooms have air purifiers at the moment,” Armstrong said, noting the L.A. district would also cover all shipping costs.

The board voted unanimously to pass the resolution. “I’m really glad we can do something concrete for that community that is devastated right now,” said vice chair Michelle DePass.

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