West Lake Middle School - No A/C at Start of School (house)

[Irvinegal]

Anyone else have a child attending West Lake MS? Was at the Open House last night and it was an oven!!! Was told by staff that a major part in the A/C broke the day before and it might be a week before fixed. I felt ill after being there just for 2 hours. Anyone else experience this and know any additional info? It's a health hazard without A/C.

[NH2NC]

when I was a kid, we didn't have A/C and sometimes had classes on the surface of the sun...kidding...

horrible if true...it's going to be hot the next few days....

[capt chill]

They will live geesh, Soft kids, open the windows and use a fan.My kid was there, new 6yh grader, some parts were off but most of the school was fine.Those trailers are great and COLD!!

[Irvinegal]

Look, I know that people survived without a/c in days of yore. I'm a big fan of open windows and outdoor air. But seriously, it wasn't just me ready to pass out. If was unbelievably hot and still inside. Awful! I called this school this morning and the receptionist said they'd gotten a generator going. So hopefully it'll be OK this week.

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by Irvinegal

Look, I know that people survived without a/c in days of yore. I'm a big fan of open windows and outdoor air. But seriously, it wasn't just me ready to pass out. If was unbelievably hot and still inside. Awful! I called this school this morning and the receptionist said they'd gotten a generator going. So hopefully it'll be OK this week.

Irvinegal, I grew up in Eastern NC w/ no AC in our school and none at home. But I agree that you have every right to be concerned! While I have not looked at the actual numbers I do believe that summer tends to be hotter now than it did "back in the day" because in part we have fewer trees shading our schools and more concrete and more roads. Also back in the day how many of you went to school on July 6th? Hmm???? This time of the year in the summer I was either soaking at the beach or under the shade of an oak tree.

Kids can not learn when it's too hot in a school building!! Not to mention middle school kids are known for BO. I would think the smell alone on a hot day would make me want to faint.

I hope the school gets some relief soon. In the meantime, I hope all those kids are drinking a lot of water.

[CHTransplant]

Comparing the lack of A/C in modern, sealed-up construction to the olden days of buildings with windows that opened isn't really a valid comparison. While I don't fully agree with the "health hazard" comment, I do agree with the OP that still, uncirculated air in a tightly sealed school is a problem that goes beyond "dealing with the heat."

[boocake]

No A/C in the "olden days" is partially why schools traditionally are out in the summer right? I think it was also so that children could help their families out at home during the summer months as well, but I also read that it was due to the heat. And don't forget that schools typically started after Labor Day when there was no A/C - not mid July. My BIL was a teacher for Wake County schools and quit a couple of years ago when his kids had to take final exams in a classroom that was over 100 degrees, and they told him they wouldn't be fixing it before the year was out.

[kickchick2000]

I am a teacher who has had to teach with no A/C several times. No A/C in a classroom is VERY different then no A/C at home. At home you can open windows to at least let a breeze in or to get fresh air. In my classroom none of the windows work so I can't get any fresh air in the room and let me tell you a cement box heats up pretty fast when there are 30 high school kids in the room. I've had my room reach the 90 mark on several occasions. I can also tell you when it's that hot my kids don't learn a thing.

I would suggest instead of calling the school call the central office or the superintendent. When enough parents call that A/C will get fixed and fixed fast.