Hot Buildings
Submitted by Righteous Lady on Mon, 06/07/2010 - 20:29.
I just read about the $23 million dollar savings experienced by Dallas ISD which will perhaps turn into $60 million in the not too far off future.
I wonder if the savings was due to lack of air conditioning and heating in some school buildings. This year, especially, I have never been so hot or so cold as in other years, although in previous years there has also been a great deal of discomfort.
This spring, it was so hot in my classroom (and other classrooms in the building) that I had to go home everyday and lie down. My stomach ached, I couldn't stop drinking enough water, and my head was very dizzy. I feel that I was suffering from heat exhaustion. Many days a thermometer registered over 90 degrees.
Furthermore, students have been exposed to these conditions, students with asthma, young children and students of which many were not so heat tolerant. Discipline problems crop up when the climate of the classroom is not comfortable, making it difficult to impossible to teach. Lack of air conditioning occurred on most days throughout March, April and May. (However, administrative offices had air conditioning every day.)
These aren't the good old days. People are accustomed to air conditioning for their comfort. This was not a situation of reduced air conditioning. I'm talking none at all.
A situation like this even in one school is deplorable. Educator professionals on campuses are trying to develop themselves to be the best ever. However, I believe that we are not graced with anyone in the central office who really cares about the problem of excessive heat in the buildings in the spring and excessive cold in the winter.
This problem of adequate heating and cooling has been a problem ever since I have taught at my school, and I have been there for several years.
I know of at least two campuses where this is a problem. Is there anyone out there who has had a similar problem? This is an inhumane condition that needs to be fixed.
DISD STEP UP !!
Why and how does our district think it can expect us to operate in the 21st century without A/C in our buildings, without a website that works outside of school buildings and without proper resources? Tell me how they expect us to educate the next generation within those parameters? Until they step up, expect us to keep getting beat up in the media, or should I say expect the district (Ross Ave) to. These are not even huge things. These are minimal expectations. I'm continually amazed.....
It is very surprising that
It is very surprising that DISD got into the media about 70 buildings still under construction. Perhaps the media isn't cowering any more. The bond implementation hasn't solved the problems with the air conditioning in the school building where I teach. It is still HOT, hot enough to make people sick. An investigation needs to be conducted into the summer management of the building program. To say it is the problem of the construction people, and then to leave it at that isn't enough. Anyone who is familiar with construction at schools knows that a DISD watchdog is needed to monitor construction even though there is an external general contractor. Where was this person, and how often did they wear their hard hat to inspect the work being done? This is sheer negligence.
Hey Rocky, once you accept
Hey Rocky, once you accept the fact that disd is a jobs program for the well connected, you will lose your common sense questions regarding the daily operations there.
Hot Buildings: What about when school opens in August?
Will buildings will be hot during the days that teachers prepare their classrooms for school? I'm sure there will be air the first day of school. That's when a lot of parents come with their children. (It's almost predictable in many cases about when there will be or won't be air or heat.) Sadly, custodians are most often forced to work without air conditioning. What about humane working conditions for them? Where is Alliance in all of this? Why don't they do something, like take a survey and see which schools are hot at the wrong time and cold at the wrong time? Why don't parents complain about their children attending school in a hot building? It's hard to do your best when sweat is pouring down your back. Asthmatic children need a controlled climate. Schools should teach compassion and consideration. DISD Central doesn't care about that. School should be more than the bottom line on the budget. It is the district's responsibility to provide a climate that is comfortable and healthy. It is not living up to this. Where is TEA?
Rockyboy, I agree with all you say. However, when TAKS was given, we didn't even have AC then! As a matter of fact, we didn't have air every day from end of April on. Thanks for writing.
Hot Buildings: answers 4U
I am so sorry you all have to endure this. I took my kids out of DISD because of these sorts of problems, as well as the evil Central Empire. Interesting enough at the school directly from our Dallas carport, the A/C is running almost non stop, emitting a high pitched whining noise. It is just not right, and it is getting worse as the years go on. It was just now and then when the system would kick on, and now it is a waste when NO ONE is in the building. I think they need to spend the money on a new system, rather than the electricity.
DISD is anti fun and caring. I was told specifically that by the critical case manager, Mike Milstead, that is was not important if my child enjoyed school. They teach cheat and you are a success, and they spend all the resources fighting the families who do complain.
The TEA is really out to lunch. They buy every lie the district tells as excuse or rebuttal. Every once in a while the blatant crimes are too extreme, and cannot be effectively covered up, but in short, the central people are willing to throw each under the bus, to get away with the intentional evil against the teachers and children. The fact that you have no materials or heat is not a crime.
If you are sick, simply call in with a doctor excuse, and tell everyone else to do the same. Get the news into it too. Blog etc. Get a riot bigger than Truett. Ha Ha
Seriously, contact the DOE regarding civil rights, and the health Dept.
Unfortunately they are all in on it, since the taxpayer is only important to pay, not be serviced in a humane and ethical manner. Thank you the state legislature to enable the unethical to steal the funds out from the children. We know that part of Government works well!
I saw a few summers back at the school I mentioned above when the Principal had to work in her office and the a/c was out, and she had no other choice. I guess she could not just unplug the computer and set up in another room, since the rest of the school was going. She was really having a heat stroke.
Please take care of yourself, so you can be well to service the kids. Advocate On Sister!
DISD does not care
Time and again, we are told that the district 'downtown' had not turned on a switch that would make us comfortable. Bull !! Here again, our illustrious district saving a dime at both students' and teachers' expense. Of course I find it intersting that principals offices are always comfy - and our A/C miraculously worked like a dream on TAKS testing days. Who are we serving again????
In winter my granddaughter
In winter my granddaughter had to wear a coat because there was no heat and in the spring students begged (to no avail) to wear capris instead of long uniform pants because there was no air! And yes, we did complain. My tax dollars "not" at work!!!
we all know
All of us know this past year every school clamped down on the paper used, positions were not filled for months so as to save on the cash attributed to the position, A/C and heating were tinkered with, less mowing, less of everything yet the teachers (deserving of a raise because yes we put up with this without anyone telling us what is actually going on) continue to do their job as they always do. They are at the district's engine/motor.
my wife's former DISD school
my wife's former DISD school was that way, they moved into and out of their classrooms in august with no HVAC, it was miserable.
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