NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Excessively hot classrooms have reignited discussions as teachers and parents of students at Cooperative Arts and Humanities Magnet School (COOP) demand action to address unhealthy learning environments. Rising classroom temperatures, some reaching into the high 80s and low 90s, are impacting both students and staff, creating challenges to health, safety, and effective learning, as the hot weather continues to intensify.
Stakeholders at COOP are now urging the district to establish clear temperature guidelines, defining a safe and acceptable indoor range for school buildings, reports the New Haven Register. They are also calling for an actionable plan to address situations where indoor climate conditions exceed these limits.
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Justin Harmon, director of marketing and communications for the district, acknowledged the issues surrounding hot classrooms but stated that temporary repairs and adjustments to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at COOP have reduced classroom temperatures to the 70s. He added that the district intends to continue monitoring the situation.
Unfortunately, permanent solutions may take longer. Although air conditioning parts have been approved, delivery and installation are expected to take 10 to 14 weeks, well beyond the end of the school year.
This is not a new problem for New Haven Public Schools. Last year, the New Haven Federation of Teachers reported HVAC issues, mold, leaks, and poor air quality at other school buildings, filing a complaint with the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CONN-OSHA). While district officials reported no deficiencies, the challenges tied to aging infrastructure and inadequate cooling systems persist.
Hot Classrooms Are a Broader, Recurring Issue at Schools Across the U.S.
Research shows that hot classrooms impair student performance, reports NBC News. A 2020 study found that students exposed to hotter temperatures scored lower on exams. The learning impacts were significantly worse for students in underserved, low-income districts, particularly Black and Latino students.
With climate change driving longer and more intense heat waves, the need for functional HVAC systems is more critical than ever. A 2021 report from the Center for Climate Integrity revealed that over 13,700 schools that didn’t need cooling systems decades ago have now installed HVAC systems or need to upgrade them, an endeavor costing more than $40 billion. Thousands more schools will require updates, incurring an additional $414 million or more in expenses.
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Nationally, around 50% of public school districts need to update or replace essential systems like HVAC, according to a 2020 Government Accountability Office report.
Teachers, parents, and school officials are calling for solutions before the impacts on health and education deepen further.
