Ryan Murphy

@ryan-murphy.bsky.social

629 Followers 285 Following

Teacher. Parent. Fan of clean air, automating school information & theatre production, Oxford commas, and coffee. Occasional writer. (he/him)

Video from NB Legislature of an MLA speaking.
Video from NB Legislature of an MLA speaking.
Video from NB Legislature of an MLA speaking.
Video from NB Legislature of an MLA speaking, longer version.
Video from NB Legislature of an MLA speaking.
Group photo of 13 Ministers of the New Brunswick provincial government wearing pink shirts in support of Pink Shirt Day. The caption reads "Pink shirt day with the team" in both English and French.
Screen capture of a title page from a presentation titled "Crash Course on School Air Quality in New Brunswick" by Ryan Murphy
Screenshot of the Members Directory for the 61st Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.
Chipman Elementary School tested out of the program with a peak score of 1450 PPM in 2021 - 2022. When testing was expanded in 2023 - 2024, a peak value of 2384 PPM was reported. This closely matches the school's initial testing.
After extremely high peak values in 2020 – 2021, subsequent testing showed values better than outdoor air. Those results were calculated, submitted, approved, and published. Princess Elizabeth School was deemed safe and no longer tested, and likely also less of a priority for system installation. When testing was expanded in 2023 – 2024, results were even worse than the initial poor testing. Mechanical ventilation system installation is scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2027.
After extremely high peak values in 2020 – 2021, subsequent testing showed values better than outdoor air. Those results were calculated, submitted, approved, and published. Beaconsfield was deemed safe and no longer tested, and likely also less of a priority for system installation. When testing was expanded in 2023 – 2024, results were similar to initial poor testing. Mechanical ventilation system installation is scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2026.
A screen capture of a list of schools showing their peak and average carbon dioxide values for the 2023 - 2024 school year. The following schools had peaks above the Province's 1500 PPM guideline: Petitcodiac Regional School (3520 PPM), Riverview Middle School (3389 PPM), Bessborough School (3319 PPM), West Riverview School (2761 PPM), Florenceville Middle School (2429 PPM), Chipman Elementary School (2384 PPM), Nackawic Senior High School (2373 PPM), Loch Lomond School (2343 PPM), Birchmount School (2282 PPM), Forest Hill Elementary (2278 PPM), Florenceville Elementary School (2247 PPM), Harcourt Elementary School (2199 PPM), Upper Miramichi Elementary School (2155 PPM), Harold Peterson Middle School (2144 PPM), Grand Bay Primary School (2143 PPM), Mountain View School (2143 PPM), Donald Fraser Memorial School (2086 PPM), Hazen White-St. Francis School (1930 PPM), Nashwaaksis Memorial School (1922 PPM), Gesner Street Elementary School (1921 PPM), St Rose School (1904 PPM), Princess Elizabeth School (1902 PPM), Bristol Elementary School (1885 PPM), St. John the Baptist/King Edward School (1814 PPM), Hillcrest School (1799 PPM), Centennial School (1789 PPM), Dorchester Consolidated School (1768 PPM), Harvey Elementary School (1755 PPM), Beaconsfield Middle School (1750 PPM), Marshview Middle School (1749 PPM), Keswick Ridge School (1743 PPM), École Calixte-F.-Savoie (1720 PPM), École Calixte-F.-Savoie (1720 PPM), Garden Creek Elementary (1699 PPM), Bath Community School (1625 PPM), Bayview School (1604 PPM), Frank L. Bowser School (1554 PPM)
Bayview School in Saint John was tested in 2020 - 2021, and scored a peak result that met the 1500 PPM guideline EECD uses. The school no longer qualified for testing in future years. When all schools were again tested, results were much worse. No data exists to determine if either of those results is an outlier, or what the air quality was like during the nearly three years of school days between tests.
Marshview Middle School had an good average score of 746 PPM - one of the best in the province. The peak value indicates the presence of one (or more) significant outliers.
After a single test result under 1500 PPM, the school was deemed safe and no longer tested. When testing was expanded in 2023 - 2024, results were worse, and above the 1500 PPM guideline.
Petitcodiac Regional School had a ventilation system installed previously, beyond the scope of the School Ventilation Program. No prior tests were reported, as schools outside of the program were deemed safe and not tested. This test result is the worst in the Province for 2023 – 2024, and is well beyond the limits of the 1500 PPM guidelines for unventilated schools used by the Province. Interestingly, the mechanical ventilation system at Petitcodiac Regional School turns on at 4:00 AM each weekday – hours before most other schools. At this concentration, over 8% of the air you breathe has already been in someone’s lungs.
A screenshot of a recommendation addressing the Province's lack of testing for schools with integrated mechanical ventilation systems.
Cover page of Report on Air Quality Test Results in New Brunswick Schools, prepared by Ryan Murphy using EECD air quality data. The full report can be accessed at a link contained in the post.
Image of an iPhone lock screen showing the current CO2 reading from an Aranet 4.
Brown boxes of air filters for use in school ventilation system. The label indicates 20 by 25 by 2 inch filters of MERV 8.
Screenshot of communications from the NBLA during the recent provincial campaign, describing their plans for improving air quality in public buildings.
A screenshot of a news article announcing the then-government's decision not to move forward with Motion 36.
A screenshot of the mandate letter to several incoming Ministers. It outlines their responsibilities, including to update the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, to require new schools, hospitals, long-term care homes, and other public buildings follow ASHRAE 241, and to add suitable air filtration and cooling units to existing infrastructure.
A screenshot of the mandate letter to the Honourable Gilles LePage, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. It outlines his responsibilities, including to update the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, to require new schools, hospitals, long-term care homes, and other public buildings follow ASHRAE 241, and to add suitable air filtration and cooling units to existing infrastructure.
A screenshot of the mandate letter to the Honourable Chuck Chiasson, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. It outlines his responsibilities, including to update the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, to require new schools, hospitals, long-term care homes, and other public buildings follow ASHRAE 241, and to add suitable air filtration and cooling units to existing infrastructure.