Current:Home > Contact-usWithout proper air conditioning, many U.S. schools forced to close amid scorching heat-InfoLens
Without proper air conditioning, many U.S. schools forced to close amid scorching heat
View Date:2024-12-23 16:56:15
Washington — For parents and kids already sweating the start of a new school year, the heat hasn't helped.
About 160 million Americans sweltered in temperatures above 90 degrees Wednesday. And with the heat index topping triple digits in Washington, D.C., some students at Horace Mann Elementary School were trying to learn their ABCs without AC.
"The fact that they aren't prepared for these kinds of incidents is a little ridiculous," parent Claire Wilder said.
Hugh Barrett, whose 5-year-old Luke came home complaining about the heat and noise from fans that don't do much in the classroom, added, "There are so many gaps for basic services like air conditioning not being functional in places like schools, where kids need to learn, teachers need to teach."
After more than a week, temporary window air conditioning units were installed at the school.
"Many schools are already facing challenges in so many areas, AC shouldn't be one of them," Barrett said.
The hot weather has spelled trouble for school districts nationwide. In the first week of September, schools in nine states — Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Massachusetts — have either been closed or dismissed students early because of the heat.
According to a 2021 report from the Centers for Climate Integrity, close to 14,000 public schools that didn't need cooling systems in the 1970s will need them by 2025, at an estimated cost of almost $40 billion.
In Baltimore, no central air conditioning in some schools forced students back to remote learning.
"Everybody should have air," a parent told CBS Baltimore. "You have air in your car, air at your job, why not at schools?"
In Philadelphia, 57% of schools don't have adequate cooling, according to Philadelphia School District officials. As a result, 86 schools are dismissing students early for the rest of the week.
"It's so humid, the cafeteria, it's like this huge cafeteria, there's no air at all," one student said.
- In:
- heat
- Education
- Heat Wave
CBS News correspondent
veryGood! (72)
Related
- Tropical Storm Sara threatens to bring flash floods and mudslides to Central America
- Man who won primary election while charged with murder convicted on lesser charge
- Record numbers in the US are homeless. Can cities fine them for sleeping in parks and on sidewalks?
- Culver's burger chain planning to open as many as 51 new locations in 2024: Here's where
- A list of mass killings in the United States this year
- Psst! Coach Outlet Has So Many Cute Bags on Sale Right Now, and They’re All Under $100
- Mark Zuckerberg Reacts to His Photoshopped Thirst Trap Photo
- Milwaukee teenager gets 13 years for shooting inside restaurant that killed 2 other teens
- Fantasy football Week 11: Trade value chart and rest of season rankings
- Vehicle crashes into building where birthday party held, injuring children and adults, sheriff says
Ranking
- Inflation ticked up in October, CPI report shows. What happens next with interest rates?
- Record Store Day celebrates indie retail music sellers as they ride vinyl’s popularity wave
- Taylor Swift breaks Spotify records for most-streamed album, most-streamed artist in a single day
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves roll over Phoenix Suns in Game 1
- California voters reject proposed ban on forced prison labor in any form
- Police to review security outside courthouse hosting Trump’s trial after man sets himself on fire
- Horoscopes Today, April 20, 2024
- 'The Jinx' Part 2: Release date, time, where to watch new episodes of Robert Durst docuseries
Recommendation
-
Georgia House Republicans stick with leadership team for the next two years
-
Brittney Spencer celebrates Beyoncé collaboration with Blackbird tattoo
-
This ancient snake in India might have been longer than a school bus and weighed a ton
-
'The Jinx' Part 2: Release date, time, where to watch new episodes of Robert Durst docuseries
-
When do new 'Yellowstone' episodes come out? Here's the Season 5, Part 2 episode schedule
-
Why FedEx's $25 million NIL push is 'massive step forward' for Memphis Tigers sports
-
Don't Sleep on These While You Were Sleeping Secrets
-
Former resident of New Hampshire youth center describes difficult aftermath of abuse