As Fort Worth ISD students stepped into their classrooms for the first time this school year on Monday, air conditioning issues became a hot topic.
Twenty-five schools found themselves grappling with limited or ineffective HVAC systems, leaving several spaces sweltering due to the recent triple-digit temperatures pervading across the metroplex.
Service tickets indicated that some 95 spaces, including classrooms, gyms, libraries, and cafeterias, faced air conditioning malfunctions.
“Some reports were that the air was set to 74 and not getting colder than 76,” explained Kelli Spencer, Fort Worth ISD’s deputy superintendent of infrastructure, according to NBC 5 DFW. “Comfort for our students matters.”
Yet a statement from Fort Worth ISD suggested that the issue only affected less than 2% of its classrooms, meaning students and staff were able to be moved to other areas with working units.
Nonetheless, the district said it was “treating this matter with the utmost urgency,” according to Fox 4 KDFW.
Although funds amounting to $11 million had been approved by the Fort Worth ISD school board trustees to replace HVAC units at 22 campuses, there have been supply chain hiccups.
In the meantime, district staff are employing temporary fixes while working toward a more permanent solution.
“Our teams have responded admirably, working late into the night and starting early, swiftly addressing problems,” Fort Worth ISD said in a statement published by The Dallas Morning News. “Despite the unexpected obstacles, our dedicated crews are proactively managing these issues as they arise.”
The school campuses currently experiencing air-conditioning problems are as follows:
- Daggett Montessori School
- North Side High School
- Versia Williams Elementary School
- Manuel Jara Elementary School
- Meacham Middle School
- Riverside Middle School
- Oakhurst Elementary School
- Springdale Elementary School
- JP Elder Middle School
- Diamond Hill Elementary School
- Carter Riverside High School
- Trimble Tech High School
- North Hi Mount Elementary School
- Forest Oak Middle School
- Jacquet Middle School
- Glen Park Elementary School
- TA Sims Elementary School
- Sagamore Hill Elementary School
- SS Dillow Elementary School
- Maude Logan Elementary School
- Briscoe Elementary School
- Mitchell Blvd Elementary School
- Dunbar High School
- Wyatt High School
- Overton Park Elementary School
Forecasts from the National Weather Service in Fort Worth predict that triple-digit temperatures will strike later this week and linger throughout the weekend and into next week.