It’s too hot to teach in “sweltering” Polk County school classrooms, the county’s teachers union said Thursday as it announced a grievance has been filed with the district over broken or failing air conditioning systems.
“As the first student day of the 2023-2024 school year is upon us, teachers and staff in Polk County Public Schools should be excited, anxiously awaiting the rush that only the first day of school provides,” Stephanie Yocum, president of the Polk Education Association, said in a news release.
“Instead, many of our teachers and staff are burning up, literally, as A/C units in many of our schools are not working or not working to the capacity they should to be a suitable, conducive learning environment for our students.”
The grievance was filed at 2:30 p.m., and the union held a livestream event on Facebook at 3 p.m. to highlight the problems.
The grievance is not the first time the union has brought the issue before the district, the union said. The PEA has brought the matter to the district’s attention since the spring when the district started changing thermostats in buildings with district-controlled temperatures at 72 degrees.
Many of those A/C issues were resolved, but because of the rise in temperatures throughout Central Florida more needs to be done to address poor air conditioning at schools, Yocum said.
“This is not the time for A/C units to be broken with parts on back order and a District labor shortage of A/C technicians,” Yocum said.
Yocum said the district should have known there would be issues with A/C units and instead of being proactive in acquiring extra parts and securing labor to install and maintain the units, the district took a “wait and see” approach.
Yocum said the schools impacted include: North Lakeland Elementary School, Blake Academy, Lake Gibson Middle School, Spessard Holland Elementary, Socrum Elementary School, Davenport School of the Arts, Horizon Elementary School, George Jenkins High School, Sandhill Elementary School, Alturus Elementary School, Traviss Technical College, Bartow Middle School, Crystal Lake Middle School Boswell Elementary School, and Kathleen Elementary School.
“In response to the District’s ongoing lack of preparedness and inability to resolve these horrifically sweltering working and learning conditions for our teachers, staff, and students, the Polk Education Association has filed a Class Action Grievance against the District,” Yocum said.
She said the district is in direct violation of its PEA contractual obligation to “maintain heating and air conditioning equipment, where available, to provide a comfortable and healthy environment when school is in session except in emergency situations.”
There are more than 15 schools with A/C issues with more issues anticipated on Friday, the first day of school.
“Our schools will be welcoming students to hot, unbearable rooms with no relief in sight, and this is unacceptable,” Yocum said.
Kyle Kennedy, senior coordinator of media relations for the school district, said in a statement late Thursday afternoon that a “significant heat wave” is “placing extreme pressure” on air conditioning, and it’s affecting more than just schools.
“The severe weather is impacting all of us — residences, businesses and schools,” Kennedy said. “Every summer, just before school begins, we typically receive an influx of work orders for A/C issues as staff return to schools. This has been magnified by the ongoing heat wave.”
Kennedy said the district is taking several steps, including:
- Deploying portable A/C units in the most critical areas, “such as portables and interior classrooms.”
- Paying overtime for maintenance staff to handle A/C work, “including on nights and weekends.”
- Hiring contractors to handle larger projects, “such as installing new A/C units and duct work.”
- Relocating students in classrooms without air conditioning to rooms with working air.
- He said the district has spent about $6 million “to purchase more than 500 new A/C units,” which will be installed as soon as possible.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of our staff and families as we work to address these issues as quickly as possible,” Kennedy said.
Students go back to school on Aug. 11.
Statement from Polk County Schools:
The nation is currently experiencing a significant heat wave. As a result, this is placing extreme pressure on Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) resources.
The severe weather is impacting all of us — residences, businesses and schools. Every summer, just before school begins, we typically receive an influx of work orders for A/C issues as staff return to schools. This has been magnified by the ongoing heat wave.
PCPS is taking several steps to attack these issues:
HVAC technicians and additional teams of maintenance staff are being deployed to schools to assess and prioritize work orders.
All available portable A/C systems are being deployed from our inventory and will be used first in critical areas, such as portables and interior classrooms.
We are authorizing overtime pay for staff to handle work orders, including on nights and weekends.
PCPS-contracted vendors will be assisting with larger projects such as installing new A/C units and duct work.
We are constantly working to upgrade the HVAC equipment in our schools. Approximately $6 million has been spent to purchase more than 500 new A/C units. Installation is taking place as soon as possible.
Students in classrooms without working A/C will be relocated to other areas on campus until fixes are made.
We appreciate the patience and understanding of our staff and families as we work to address these issues as quickly as possible.