Central air conditioning coming to two Grayslake Elementary District 46 schools
About $1.4 million will be spent to air-condition two Grayslake schools, Grayslake Elementary District 46 school board members have decided.
The District 46 board voted 4-3 Thursday to install central air conditioning at Woodview and Meadowview schools for the next academic year. Northbrook-based F.E. Moran Group was awarded the $483,000 job for Meadowview, while Martin Petersen Co. Inc. of Kenosha will handle Woodview for $945,000.
The schools serve students in kindergarten through fourth grade. District 46's five other buildings have air conditioning.
Parent Amy McLester was among those who cited safety and health concerns in telling board members during public comment time that central air is necessary for Meadowview and Woodview. Similar to other parents, McLester said the district should pay for the air conditioning and delay buying computer tablets for all students if money is tight.
"I'm talking about equality," McLester told the school board. "If we're not going to put air conditioning in at Meadowview and Woodview, then I propose stopping all air conditioning for all Grayslake students."
Board President Steven Strack and members Jill Alfrejd, James Weidman and Robert Roop carried the 4-3 vote in favor of the air conditioning. In their final meeting as District 46 board members, Susan Facklam, Kip Evans and Karen Weinert voted against.
Evans said he agrees the air conditioning is needed at Woodview and Meadowview. However, he added, District 46 can't afford the $1.4 million project, particularly because future state funding levels are unknown.
"We're taking this money out of reserves," Evans said. "This money is earmarked for emergency purposes."
Lack of air conditioning became a particular concern in 2013, when temperatures were in the 90s early in the school year, leading officials to cancel classes for one day at Woodview and Meadowview and send students home early on three other days.
In making the case for air conditioning in previous discussions on the issue, District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll cited research indicating the optimum temperature to learn is 72 degrees. She said temperatures over 80 degrees are believed to have a negative impact on memory.