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Classroom Scorcher: AC Fails Students on First Day
12 Aug
Summary
- Loretto Elementary classroom lacked air conditioning for students.
- Parent reported the issue before school began, using a portable AC.
- Students were relocated while HVAC teams addressed the problem.
As students returned to Duval County schools, a first-grade special needs classroom at Loretto Elementary experienced dangerously high temperatures due to a malfunctioning air conditioning unit. A concerned parent reported the AC issue prior to orientation last week, stating the classroom exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and even provided a portable unit.
Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier confirmed awareness of AC outages and dispatched a team to assess systems district-wide. The district stated that students from the affected classroom were temporarily relocated to cooler spaces within the school. The principal of Loretto Elementary assured parents that the situation was being addressed to ensure student comfort.
In a Tuesday update, DCPS acknowledged intermittent AC outages across several schools, emphasizing their commitment to student and staff safety. The district highlighted that many Duval County schools are aging and that the 2020 half-penny sales tax is funding extensive modernization, including HVAC system upgrades. Families were encouraged to contact principals with any concerns.
