Wicomico Students And Staff Cope With Heat In Classrooms Without AC

Wicomico Students and Staff Cope with Heat in Classrooms without AC
Wicomico County Public Schools have gotten off to a great start on the 2010-11 school year, but in several schools that lack air conditioning the learning conditions have been challenging at best.

In most or all of Bennett Middle School, West Salisbury Elementary School, Pittsville Elementary and Middle School, Northwestern Elementary School and East Salisbury Elementary School, as well as areas in some other schools, the daytime temperatures in the mid-90s and heat index approaching 100 degrees have on some days made indoor temperatures rise to uncomfortable levels.

“I visited all of these schools on the hottest afternoon of the school year so far, walking into the hottest rooms – those on the second floor and/or with a south or west exposure,” said Dr. John Fredericksen, superintendent of schools. “It was 95 degrees outside. It was every bit of that indoors, but the shade of being indoors and the large number of fans and water coolers distributed around the hallways and classrooms made it feel very warm, though not unbearable.”

Students and staff are finding relief as best they can with fans, water bottles and lightweight clothing. Ultimately, however, the relief that is needed is for the school system’s goal of having air conditioning in 100 percent of instructional areas, Dr. Fredericksen said. Every student in Wicomico County deserves to learn in a comfortable school climate.

“We've had a couple of staff members go home ill from a school without air conditioning,” Dr. Fredericksen said. “Students appear to be less productive in the non-air conditioned classrooms. In air-conditioned classrooms there appears to be more sitting up and active participation, whereas in the non-air conditioned classrooms, more of the students were leaning their head on a hand and seemed less interested in engaging in the lesson.

“In general, I was very impressed with the actions of our teachers, staff, students, and others in the buildings. They clearly acknowledged that they know the financial challenges we all face and that they were proud to be doing their best. I saw teachers pressing for higher order answers from their students. I saw instructional assistants actively engaged with students on the drill and practice that cements core learning. I saw students working independently and in groups to master learning. I didn't observe anyone breaking the new dress code, despite the warmth.”

The FY2011 Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP) reported air conditioning in 77 percent of the instructional areas of Wicomico Schools. That percentage will increase due to the opening of James M. Bennett High School this week, thanks to county and state funding of that project, and summer HVAC projects in other schools, including the 1957 wing at Pittsville Elementary and Middle.

Based upon the recommendation of the Superintendent’s Task Force on Long Range Planning, the Board originally set 2015 as the target year for accomplishing the goal of having 100 percent air conditioning, but due to deferred funding the target date is now 2017 and that may extend further out.

In the short term, Northwestern Elementary School and Wicomico County Public Schools are seeking community support for the Northwestern Elementary HVAC project in an effort to secure Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) Funds from the state of Maryland to help fund the project. For several years now, the school system’s Capital Improvement Program has included a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systemic renovation project at Northwestern Elementary which includes plumbing, electrical and lighting upgrades. To apply for QZAB funds, the school system must have a 10% match – approximately $12,000 -- in private sector contributions. Letters have been mailed to potential supporters with a QZAB Support Form to fill out and return by Sept. 10. Wicomico County’s QZAB application must be submitted by Sept. 15.

“Your donation will be publicly acknowledged with a special sign at the school site during construction as well as noted on our website. We are hopeful that your business will benefit from the community goodwill generated by your thoughtful donation to this project,” Dr. Fredericksen said.

Planning is also under way for HVAC improvements at Parkside High School, Mardela Middle and High, Wicomico Middle and Delmar Elementary schools, whose aging units are no longer able to provide adequate heating, ventilation and air conditioning for those buildings.

The school system already has state planning approval to design a new Bennett Middle School, and on Sept. 7 the Wicomico County Council approved a bond bill which includes $2 million in additional funding for architecture and engineering fees for the new Bennett Middle. The school will be built on South Division Street in Fruitland once construction funding is available. The school system anticipates requesting the initial round of construction funding from the state this fall, and the county will also be asked to fund this much needed project. If the required level of funding comes without delay, construction could begin in approximately two years and the new Bennett Middle could potentially open in 2015.

The next major project on the school construction list after Bennett Middle is the renovation of and additions to West Salisbury Elementary. This school is in need of major HVAC improvements including air conditioning adequate modernized instructional spaces, integrated technology systems, a more energy efficient building enclosure and upgraded utilities infrastructure.