Many Buildings Haven’t Switched to AC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the exact issue with switching between heat and AC within school buildings?

For older systems, the process to switch from one system to the other isn't a simple one. I'm not an expert, but as I understand it, it usually involves flushing the entire system of the hot water used for heating and refilling/chilling cold water, or vice-versa. So you switch once when the seasons change and stick with it. It's quite common with commercial systems. Every year, the Target near our apartment building would be cleaned out of fans or space heaters whenever the weather changed and none of surrounding apartments had converted their systems yet.

That said, some schools do have the AC on already. My daughter's HS doesn't have AC yet, but she was at an event held in an MCPS elementary school last night that had good AC already. She said it seemed like a newer building, so presumably it's a more modern system that doesn't require such an extensive process to switch.

I think it’s more frustrating bc this doesn’t make sense why our hallways have ac,.it’s literally 10 degrees cooler walking outside any classroom,. I just let the students work out in the hall today… front office has AC, cafeteria does… all the rooms where the learning happens were upper 80s today. Everyone was miserable again. Again- they have a huge budget, they need to redo the systems.

My classroom’s AC never works. This past September there was a 10-12* difference between my room and the classroom adjacent to me. I was told that because I only complained once, it was assumed it was only that day. Since then, I filled out that form every day until the weather got cooler. My classroom has two tiny windows and sits on the playground’s blacktop area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the exact issue with switching between heat and AC within school buildings?

For older systems, the process to switch from one system to the other isn't a simple one. I'm not an expert, but as I understand it, it usually involves flushing the entire system of the hot water used for heating and refilling/chilling cold water, or vice-versa. So you switch once when the seasons change and stick with it. It's quite common with commercial systems. Every year, the Target near our apartment building would be cleaned out of fans or space heaters whenever the weather changed and none of surrounding apartments had converted their systems yet.

That said, some schools do have the AC on already. My daughter's HS doesn't have AC yet, but she was at an event held in an MCPS elementary school last night that had good AC already. She said it seemed like a newer building, so presumably it's a more modern system that doesn't require such an extensive process to switch.

I think it’s more frustrating bc this doesn’t make sense why our hallways have ac,.it’s literally 10 degrees cooler walking outside any classroom,. I just let the students work out in the hall today… front office has AC, cafeteria does… all the rooms where the learning happens were upper 80s today. Everyone was miserable again. Again- they have a huge budget, they need to redo the systems.

My classroom’s AC never works. This past September there was a 10-12* difference between my room and the classroom adjacent to me. I was told that because I only complained once, it was assumed it was only that day. Since then, I filled out that form every day until the weather got cooler. My classroom has two tiny windows and sits on the playground’s blacktop area.

Unreal. Tell your students to have their parents complain to the school and also to MCPS. That is what our teachers kept telling the students to do all week. They probably won't listen to teachers, but they always kowtow to parents, so hopefully something has got to give.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the kids in NYC just sweat it out no AC most schools. Even summer school. Such babies

Ok, but this is mcps.

[Anonymous]

My classroom doesn't have any windows. It's awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the kids in NYC just sweat it out no AC most schools. Even summer school. Such babies

Ok, but this is mcps.

I taught in NYC. I can assure you many buildings had AC. Those that didn't? The kids survived (but not without MANY complaints) because they never knew anything else. Many of those students testified at BOE meetings. Just because you CAN survive something doesn't mean you SHOULD. Students deserve better. Why don't you understand this?

Additionally, MCPS students right now are accustomed to feeling comfortable in classrooms. They are not "babies" because they normally aren't about to pass out from heat in a building with no windows. I'm so tired of the "we survived this way, so you should do it too" mentality. If that mindset remained, we never would have progressed as a species. We'd stick to status quo because that's all we've know. Such a juvenile response. Evolve with the rest of us. Times change. Maybe it's time for someone like you to actually catch up.

[Anonymous]

^^^ accidentally quoted under the wrong response...this was to the person who said, "All the kids in NYC just sweat it out no AC most schools. Even summer school. Such babies." ^^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the kids in NYC just sweat it out no AC most schools. Even summer school. Such babies

Ok, but this is mcps.

I taught in NYC. I can assure you many buildings had AC. Those that didn't? The kids survived (but not without MANY complaints) because they never knew anything else. Many of those students testified at BOE meetings. Just because you CAN survive something doesn't mean you SHOULD. Students deserve better. Why don't you understand this?

Additionally, MCPS students right now are accustomed to feeling comfortable in classrooms. They are not "babies" because they normally aren't about to pass out from heat in a building with no windows. I'm so tired of the "we survived this way, so you should do it too" mentality. If that mindset remained, we never would have progressed as a species. We'd stick to status quo because that's all we've know. Such a juvenile response. Evolve with the rest of us. Times change. Maybe it's time for someone like you to actually catch up.

They cannot simply switch over and once they do they cannot go back. Many buildings are old and it’s not a simple process. If my is better move.

[Anonymous]

My dc school will switch on first week of may.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please complain to MCPS if your child’s building hasn’t. It was close to 86 degrees today in my classroom and the rest of the building. We accomplished nothing because they kids were way too hot… as were the teachers. State testing is around the corner and students cannot function in that kind of heat. 28 students packed into a room that is 86 degrees…. We have a 3 billion dollar budget. Absolutely ridiculous.

OP didn’t read their MCEA contract. It clearly states that teachers can request an alternative teaching space if their classroom is 80 degrees or warmer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My classroom doesn't have any windows. It's awful.

Do you have your own thermometer to document the temp? File a complaint if your school does not provide you with an alternative teaching space according to the terms of our contract. Complaining in an anonymous forum undermines what we have already fought for in our contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My classroom doesn't have any windows. It's awful.

Do you have your own thermometer to document the temp? File a complaint if your school does not provide you with an alternative teaching space according to the terms of our contract. Complaining in an anonymous forum undermines what we have already fought for in our contract.

I can request all I want but there is no space. That’s why I’m in a crappy room with no windows. Maybe they could set up tents outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My classroom doesn't have any windows. It's awful.

Do you have your own thermometer to document the temp? File a complaint if your school does not provide you with an alternative teaching space according to the terms of our contract. Complaining in an anonymous forum undermines what we have already fought for in our contract.

I can request all I want but there is no space. That’s why I’m in a crappy room with no windows. Maybe they could set up tents outside.

Lead a hostile takeover of the media center!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please complain to MCPS if your child’s building hasn’t. It was close to 86 degrees today in my classroom and the rest of the building. We accomplished nothing because they kids were way too hot… as were the teachers. State testing is around the corner and students cannot function in that kind of heat. 28 students packed into a room that is 86 degrees…. We have a 3 billion dollar budget. Absolutely ridiculous.

OP didn’t read their MCEA contract. It clearly states that teachers can request an alternative teaching space if their classroom is 80 degrees or warmer.

I know my contract rights and yet… no we can’t. There isn’t any space. Maybe the union should stop promising things they can’t actually do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please complain to MCPS if your child’s building hasn’t. It was close to 86 degrees today in my classroom and the rest of the building. We accomplished nothing because they kids were way too hot… as were the teachers. State testing is around the corner and students cannot function in that kind of heat. 28 students packed into a room that is 86 degrees…. We have a 3 billion dollar budget. Absolutely ridiculous.

OP didn’t read their MCEA contract. It clearly states that teachers can request an alternative teaching space if their classroom is 80 degrees or warmer.

And if the entire school is over 80 degrees, what then? They are just going to cancel school, but nice try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please complain to MCPS if your child’s building hasn’t. It was close to 86 degrees today in my classroom and the rest of the building. We accomplished nothing because they kids were way too hot… as were the teachers. State testing is around the corner and students cannot function in that kind of heat. 28 students packed into a room that is 86 degrees…. We have a 3 billion dollar budget. Absolutely ridiculous.

OP didn’t read their MCEA contract. It clearly states that teachers can request an alternative teaching space if their classroom is 80 degrees or warmer.

And if the entire school is over 80 degrees, what then? They are just going to cancel school, but nice try.

Bring in a fan like in the old days. They need to toughen up these kids anyways.