Beating the Heat: Denver's Pursuit of Cooling Classrooms

As Denver Public Schools (DPS) welcome students back to the classroom, a significant challenge emerges – nearly a third of the district's schools lack air conditioning, forcing students and teachers to endure the sweltering summer heat. This article explores the district's efforts to remedy the situation and ensure a comfortable learning environment for all.

Cooling Colorado's Classrooms: A Pressing Necessity

Battling the Heat: Resourceful Strategies in the Classroom

Administrators and teachers in Denver's schools have resorted to creative measures to combat the oppressive heat. Principal Taryn Rawson of Goldrick Elementary School describes the challenges, "We have these loud brown swamp cooler fans at a couple of places in the hallway. They blow cool air, but they're sort of a blessing and a curse because they're really loud." Despite these makeshift solutions, the heat remains a constant struggle, with temperatures in some classrooms reaching as high as the mid-90s.To mitigate the impact on students, Rawson explains that they often relocate classes to cooler spaces or even dismiss students early on the hottest days. "It's really tough," she laments. "We want them to be excited to be back at school. We want them to be able to focus and do their best learning in the first few days. And that's a lot to ask of them when they're sweaty and tired and it's 94 degrees in their classroom."

Dressing for the Heat: Educators' Creative Approach

The heat not only affects the students but also takes a toll on the faculty. Rawson acknowledges the need to dress for comfort, rather than strict professional attire, saying, "I think about what clothes can I buy that look professional but allow as much breathability as possible. I always say if it was okay for a principal to wear a bikini, that's probably what I would wear."Educators go to great lengths to stay cool, from keeping chilled washcloths in the fridge to using them as makeshift cooling devices. Rawson notes, "I know all my staff thinks about that, too. And it's kind of a shame that's a burden placed on some of our DPS educators when other DPS educators are just focused on learning names and meeting families and planning for these first few days."

Uneven Temperatures: A Tale of Two Classrooms

The disparities within the DPS system are stark, with some schools enjoying the comfort of air conditioning while others struggle with stifling temperatures. Goldrick Elementary, one of the 29 DPS schools without air conditioning, serves over 21,000 students across the district.The impact of this uneven distribution is evident, as Rawson describes the stark contrast between the cool and hot spaces within the school. "Inside some classrooms, temperatures can reach the mid-90s. At Goldrick Elementary, temperatures have hit over 100 degrees in the stairwells." This creates an uneven learning environment, where some students can focus on their studies while others battle the physical discomfort of the heat.

A Promising Solution: Voter-Approved Funding for Air Conditioning

DPS is taking steps to address this issue, with the school board approving a unanimous vote to place a $975 million bond initiative on the November ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would provide the necessary funding to install air conditioning in the remaining 29 schools without it.Scott Pribble, the director of external communications for DPS, emphasizes the district's commitment to ensuring a comfortable learning environment for all students. "If that is approved, the remaining 29 schools will all have air conditioning in a short amount of time after that."The bond initiative is structured in a way that will not raise taxes for Denver residents, as Pribble explains, "Denver Public Schools is able to pay off portions of that debt every single year as part of our normal operating budget so we don't have to raise taxes in order for us to be able to do that."

A Call to Action: Cooling Colorado's Classrooms

As the district awaits the vote, educators like Rawson remain hopeful that the bond measure will pass, providing much-needed relief for students and teachers alike. "These students are just as brilliant and just as worthy. Their futures are full of just as much promise and so they deserve facilities that are just as nice and just as well equipped to handle this hot Denver climate we have at the end of the summer."The path forward is not without its challenges, as Pribble acknowledges that it could still take years to install air conditioning in all 29 schools, even with the bond funding in place. However, the district's commitment to ensuring a comfortable learning environment for all students is unwavering.As Denver residents prepare to cast their votes, the future of the district's classrooms hangs in the balance. The outcome of this bond measure could shape the learning experiences of generations of students, as they strive to reach their full potential in comfortable, well-equipped classrooms.