Newark students brace for heat without air conditioning
NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) — School is out for the summer on Friday in Newark, but students must first endure a week of brutally hot temperatures.
Several Newark Public School buildings do not have air conditioning.
“It’s horrible,” said Guida Rodrigues, whose eighth-grade daughter is preparing to graduate from Ann Street Elementary School. “She comes out of school drenched in sweat. It’s very bad. They suffer all day.”
Rodrigues said she had purchased fans for her daughter’s classrooms in years past.
“There are years I provided fans for her homeroom because it gets really bad,” she said.
Ann Street Elementary is one of several Newark schools that is more than 100 years old and needs upgrades.
“Newark Public Schools need air conditioning,” said Mulaa Farouk, who graduated in 2021 from People’s Prep Charter School in Newark.
He said the school did not have air conditioning when he was a student.
“Kids are tired. Kids are stressed out. Too much anxiety, personal problems. And they come to school in this heat. It’s too hot for us to pay attention and concentrate,” he said.
“This has been an issue since I was in school,” said Denise Clark, a Newark education advocate and alumna of West Side High School. “I went to school from 1973-1977. It was burning up in the school buildings. It is very uncomfortable. It is hard to think and it’s hard to keep your attention span on anything but staying cool.”
Nancy Deering, the acting director of communications for the Newark Public School District, released a statement to PIX11 News:
“During any and all inclement weather events, such as the advisory on heat this week, we monitor all of our schools and facilities for the health and safety of our students and staff. Even on the hottest days, our classrooms are safe and well-ventilated. Many of our schools have up-to-date and well-functioning HVAC systems; in the dozens of schools that are in aging facilities without air conditioning throughout, fans are provided as needed. High temperatures are possible on some days every school year, and our facilities staff address these issues yearly. More generally, the district has identified schools that are more than 100 years old and in need of renovations of various kinds, including HVAC and electrical upgrades, which are needed for installing air conditioners throughout a school building. Addressing those needs in those schools is a priority. We have also prioritized providing air conditioning in large spaces such as cafeterias to provide temporary relief and limited outdoor activities as necessary.”
Newark Public School District
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