By Lisa Rutledge
Jun 20, 2008
The Waterloo Region public school board has earmarked $200,000 for air conditioners and improved ventilation in portables to help students and teachers beat the heat and humidity.
However, greater funding will need to be set aside to make more of the district's 350 portables comfortable during hot weather, maintains Cambridge trustee Cindy Watson. But she noted that it's at least a move in the right direction.
"It's a start. We're happy it will offer some relief to staff and students and we can build on that."
The money, approved this week as part of funding for pupil accommodations, will be used to install new cooling systems in portables identified by the district as worst-case scenarios.
Starting next spring, the district will embark on a comprehensive five-year study of portable conditions.
Watson, one of several trustees who lobbied for better learning environments for teachers and kids, has received letters from parents and teachers who have complained overheated and humid portables have led to headaches, nausea and poor concentration.
She acknowledged concerns about the environmental impacts of installing air conditioners but Watson argued that children's health is also paramount.
"There are environmental concerns," she said, "but there are also health concerns about children roasting in portables."
Although chilly, rainy weather appears to be ushering out the end of the school year, students were forced to leave their portable and move into the schools to beat the heat when temperatures soared several weeks ago.
Many Cambridge teachers moved their students into main school buildings to seek relief from the heat and humidity, often taking refuge in school libraries.
This week's cooler temperatures are a welcome relief for staff and students at Clemens Mill Public School, which houses seven portables on its Saginaw Parkway site. Principal Roger Boettcher noted that on at least one occasion this spring, teachers and students vacated portables temporarily due to heat and humidity.
He noted the school doesn't have a specific policy governing temperatures safety limits for portables but does give teachers the freedom to decide when their classrooms get just too hot to handle.
"My teachers just know that if they're too uncomfortable, we'll make room for them in the school," said Boeltcher, assuring students are easily accommodated in the school.
He said the school district has installed new ceiling fans and has painted portable roofs with a reflective coating to reduce temperatures. And officials have visited the school to monitor portable temperatures and humidity.
Ironically, while the cooler temperatures bring some relief, they have hampered the district's efforts to examine portables. District facilities controller Art Phalen said it has been difficult to collect solid data this spring.
The district's five-year review of portables will consider whether the classrooms are located on Tarmac and exposed to full sun all day or are situated in shady spots. It is anticipated that some air conditioners could be installed as early as the spring of 2009 with others being phased in later.
