Dover Elementary teacher Chris MacLean is warning that extreme classroom heat has become more than a seasonal nuisance — it is now a health risk for students and staff.
Here's what to know
During a September heat wave in Richmond, California, one student suffered a bloody nose and another became so nauseous they had to go home, reported Richmondside.
MacLean said older school buildings without air conditioning can trap heat indoors.
"It's always the worst in the fall, but it's been changing as the world gets hotter and there's more extreme weather events," MacLean said.
MacLean said high classroom temperatures have made the school day harder for students and employees alike. Teachers have reported headaches during the hottest stretches, and one colleague's classroom was already at 80 degrees by 7 a.m. during the heat wave.
Educators elsewhere in the West Contra Costa Unified School District said they have run into the same issue.
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Murphy Elementary third-grade teacher Karen VanWinkle told the school board her classroom hit 81 degrees, and the art room's CO2 monitor showed elevated carbon dioxide even with doors and windows open.
"Our art teacher got a headache within an hour of being in the room," VanWinkle said.
District educators say the problem has been mounting for years.
"We have been talking about this since at least 2014 because my students were getting nosebleeds," said Richmond teachers union president Francisco Ortiz.
In a May survey of 126 teachers, roughly 63% said their schools were only "barely" prepared for extreme hot weather, and the union singled out 24 campuses as high priorities for upgrades.
More background
For children, extreme heat in school can be both a health issue and a barrier to learning.
A 2019 Harvard study found that children are more sensitive to heat than adults, increasing their risk of heat stress. Students with asthma may face added health concerns.
A 2020 study in the American Economic Association's American Economic Journal linked hotter days to lower test scores, especially at schools without AC, and a global study published by PLOS Climate found stronger student performance at 68 degrees than at 86 degrees.
Rising temperatures can lead to medical problems and make it harder for students to focus and learn.
What's being done?
The union's latest contract requires West Contra Costa Unified to produce a plan for addressing temperature problems by June 30, 2027.
Ortiz said he wants the district to act sooner, especially since the union has already identified the campuses most in need of upgrades.
District spokesperson Liz Sanders said the district is already "providing fans and portable AC units, installation of window tinting and window shades at multiple sites, and designation of cooling locations in common spaces on campus."
She also said the district is reviewing HVAC needs through its Facilities Master Plan and planting trees to add shade.
A report commissioned by the union also laid out several practical fixes.
Ortiz said portable AC units cost about $400 each, while mini-split systems could be another relatively affordable way to cool individual classrooms.
At Ford Elementary, a review by Intrinsic Environment, Health & Safety found that MERV 13 filters were 15 months overdue for replacement, which can restrict airflow and worsen indoor heat.
Until broader solutions are in place, some teachers and parents have tried to address the problem on their own.
At Shannon Elementary, teacher Jeffrey Bean said parents bought fans for his classroom, but the room still reached 86.6 degrees.
Where can I learn more?
Extreme heat is putting children at risk in ways that range from immediate medical emergencies during heat waves to longer-term developmental concerns. Hotter temperatures are also straining power systems in other states, underscoring how widespread and disruptive these heat events have become.
• Health experts warn severe weather can shape children's development long before they enter classrooms.
• In Texas, power demand surged during one of the year's most oppressive heatwaves.
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