EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – Parents are demanding change after Purple Heart Elementary School classrooms were left without air conditioning.
Some parents said the problem has been going on for weeks. One mother even told ABC-7 she brought her own fan into her child’s classroom to make sure it stays cool.
“Yeah, that was a problem. They came home very hot, so not dehydrated, but they often had to take water bottles to school so they wouldn’t overheat and stuff,” said family member Ezequel Montiel. “I feel like they just get sick, from heat stroke and stuff.”
Concerned for their safety, some parents wonder why they were not notified.
“I didn’t know that. I’m a little shocked,” said father Edgar Venegas. “We pay our taxes so they can have their amenities up to date, so this isn’t fair to us.”
A Socorro School District spokesperson issued the following statement:
“Due to the extreme heat, keeping schools cool can be a challenge at this time of year. High temperatures put a strain on equipment, which unfortunately sometimes leads to system failures.
Air conditioning maintenance and repairs were fully funded. However, because schools, businesses and households are facing similar challenges at the same time, it took longer for the parts needed to make the repairs to arrive. For Purple Heart Elementary, some of the needed parts recently arrived and repairs are underway.
To support students and teachers while equipment awaits repair, our maintenance team is working diligently to provide portable equipment to cool and ventilate classrooms. Schools are also working to provide alternative learning spaces for classes whose systems await repair.”
ABC-7 reached out to EPISD, YISD and Canutillo ISD to see if they are experiencing similar issues.
A Canutillo ISD spokesperson responded with this statement:
“Districtwide, we currently have six classrooms without working air conditioning units and one portable one at Northwest Early College High School. The district is currently running 95% on HVAC units and 5% on evaporative coolers.
In the short term, students will be moved from the affected classrooms to other classrooms with functioning air conditioning systems, and portable cooling units will be added at Northwest Early College. In the long term, the bond program recently approved by voters will provide our campuses with new HVAC systems.”
ABC-7 is waiting for response from other districts.
