Teachers in Santa Barbara, California, are calling for a formal plan to deal with dangerous indoor heat.
After a historic heat wave pushed some classroom temperatures to 100 degrees, educators said students were showing signs of heat stress and argued that existing steps, such as fans, aren't enough to keep schools safe.
Here's what to know
According to the Santa Barbara Independent, La Colina Junior High School performing arts teacher Lisa Sueyres spoke to the city's Unified School Board in mid-September, saying her classroom stayed above 85 degrees during a recent heat wave and peaked at 91.9 degrees, despite having two fans running on high.
She said the school has air conditioning in just two spaces and asked the district to create what she called a "heat emergency" plan to protect both students and employees.
"The district needs a concrete and equitable plan with what we have now," Sueyres said, per the Independent. "We need a plan for access to cooling spaces on all campuses."
Santa Barbara High School teacher Kat Ross said teachers have "witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change on students in our district," a problem she said is worsened by aging buildings that lack adequate ventilation and cooling.
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"We need to be prepared," said Ross, who noted that students had shown signs of heat stress, with some classrooms reaching 100 degrees. "This means having a heat response plan for temperatures inside classrooms, not just outside temperatures."
More background
Heat waves can harm public health and community safety, while making it harder for kids to focus in class.
The costs of keeping schools and homes cool, meanwhile, can add pressure to public budgets and household bills.
According to the Independent, district spokesperson Ed Zuchelli said many campuses have no air conditioning because the region's weather has typically been mild. He said upgrading older buildings can be expensive, with crews potentially needing to add ductwork and check for asbestos and lead.
What's being done?
As the local news outlet noted, the district has reportedly made HVAC improvements at some schools, added window tinting, provided fans, and put extreme-heat-day protocols in place. But it also appears to be waiting on confirmation from the California Energy Commission that the district can move forward with additional improvements using state funding.
Researchers Allison Poulos and Jennifer Vanos of the program HeatReady Schools at Arizona State University are among those helping districts prepare for extreme heat and its effects. They too have identified funding hurdles as a prime barrier to mitigating heat risks so that staff and students can stay safe and concentrate.
As they wrote at The Conversation this summer, "Many schools facing the most extreme heat are also those with the least amount of money available to spend."
But teachers in Santa Barbara said planning for heat safety shouldn't be delayed.
"Let's get this fixed so our students can perform at their best," Ross said at the meeting earlier in September.
Where can I learn more?
These stories cover overheating classrooms, heat-preparedness drills, and dangerous heat waves across the U.S.:
• Across the central U.S., Americans under heat alerts face deadly temperatures.
• In the northern U.S., more schools need air conditioning as classrooms become increasingly miserable.
• Cities and schools are now rehearsing for deadly heat waves as extreme temperatures intensify.
• Findings have shown that heat disrupts daily life, from travel to routine activities.
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