Published Saturday, August 14, 2010

Broken air conditioning makes it hot at East Coweta ninth-grade campus

The Newnan Times-Herald

With the first day of school coming much earlier than it did a generation ago, and with an especially hot summer, it can be a challenge to keep students cool and safe from the time they get to school in the early morning until the time they hop off the un-air-conditioned bus in the afternoon.

Even the school buildings themselves can be difficult to keep cool.

Parents of East Coweta High School ninth graders have complained this week about students being over-heated due to a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.

"I was wanting someone to look into why the ninth grade campus at East Coweta High School does not have working air conditioning," said parent Kristy Ivey. "They have been in school for a week now and still do not have air. My daughter has gotten sick and almost passed out in her afternoon classes."

Dean Jackson, spokesperson for the Coweta County School System, said that the maintenance department has been trying to resolve the issue.

"There is a problem with the cooling tower at the East Coweta High ninth grade campus," Jackson said Friday afternoon. "It trips off, and has to be reset manually each time."

The temperature in the classrooms has remained safe, though perhaps a bit uncomfortable, he said.

"The temperature inside classrooms has stayed at around 76 degrees inside -- not cool and probably not always comfortable, but not extremely hot, either," he said.

"We have had folks working on the tower throughout this week, and will continue to work on it until it is fixed," he said.

"We hope to have the problem resolved by next week," said Jackson.

The school system "allows and encourages" water on school buses for the trip home in the afternoons, Jackson said. Bringing a water bottle to class may not be such a bad idea, either, until the air conditioning is repaired at the ECHS ninth grade campus building.

To beat the heat, "the single biggest thing we do is minimize time outside to stay in the cool and, so yes, outdoor programs are curtailed generally," said Jackson.