As local school districts go the the bargaining table, they are no longer negotiating just about wages and health benefits. Districts are being presented with proposals that suggest “classroom temperatures of 72 degrees.” While comfortable classroom conditions are optimal to create a successful learning environment and thus student success, these demands as part of worker safety articles, are adding to district woes of aging facilities, climate change, and the complicated world of facilities bonds. There is no denying that schools were built at a time when there were fewer hot days, and now with emphasis on school safety make campuses more buttoned up, the end result is that the classrooms are hot. Parents, staff, and site administrators, are leading the charge on cooler classrooms. However, this is a complicated issue and systemic relief requires a substantial investment to modernize facilities. While there are no easy solutions, collaboration with labor partners and parent groups is essential for districts on this issue.
As hotter-than-normal temperatures become more common in the late spring and early fall, they pose a risk to students’ academic success. Researchers have linked heat exposure to reduced learning, in addition to a range of well-known health effects such as dizziness, headaches and worsening asthma symptoms. Teachers aren’t immune either — especially in places that aren’t used to hot weather.
