LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Several Clark County School District schools have faced hot classrooms this school year because of problems with air conditioning units.
“It’s problematic for our educators as well as our students because students struggle to stay focused. It impacts their learning,” said Clark County Education Association President, Marie Neisess.
Nevada Administrative Code regulates minimum and maximum classroom temperature for all schools, including charter and private schools.
Code says the maximum classroom temperature is 85 degrees. Code also indicates schools or district administration are required to report occurrences of excessive temperatures to the Southern Nevada Health District.
Officials say that means if a classroom temperature goes over 85 degrees, a school or district would have to report that to the Health District.
“I did not realize, and this is my 32nd year in the district,” said Neisess.
“To date, the health district has no documented occurrences of schools with temperatures exceeding the regulations,” said Health District officials.
The Southern Nevada Health District did say it has received approximately 81 reports of air conditioning issues at CCSD schools, so far this year.
SNHD officials explained what would happen to any school that does not report an occurrence of excessive temperatures.
“If, during a routine inspection, SNHD staff find areas of a school that are not in compliance (i.e., in excess of 85 degrees Fahrenheit), a violation would be noted on the inspection report and the school would need to take immediate steps to address the situation by moving the students to another area, relocating the students to another facility, or dismissing the students. If a school failed to take the appropriate action, SNHD would notify the Nevada Board of Education. Thus far, such action by SNHD has not been needed,” officials replied.
FOX5 asked CCSD Friday if it has recorded any classroom temperature readings of more than 85 degrees this year. And, if anything is being done to find a permanent fix to cooling issues within CCSD.
CCSD responded in an email but did not answer our two questions. So, we sent another email asking CCSD to answer the same two questions. So far, we have not heard a reply.
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