Dist. 303 need air conditioning

I am writing in response to the Daily Herald's Saturday Soapbox comment questioning the need for air conditioning in School District 303 schools. As the editor wrote this piece, he was most likely sitting in the comfort of his air conditioned office. This type of knee-jerk reaction to a very serious issue is hypocritical at best.

Had the editor done his homework, he would have discovered:

1. District 303 elementary schools and some middle schools endure indoor building temperatures consistently above 89 degrees F on a daily basis for approximately one third of the school year. (One middle school and the two high schools are air conditioned).

2. During these hot days, students and staff must focus on keeping cool rather than working on academics.

3. With asthma and allergy rates soaring (as noted in the Daily Herald in numerous articles over the past several years), children suffer through these long hot days at school or must miss school completely.

4. District 303 school temperatures do not come close to meeting OSHA standards for temperature and humidity levels in buildings.

5. Most students come from homes that are air conditioned, therefore, the excessive heat in the schools create a much greater impact on their well-being.

Most people I speak with are surprised when I tell them our schools are not air conditioned. The draconian belief that "I went through school with no air conditioning so future generations should as well" no longer applies.

School is starting earlier in August than ever before and temperatures are greater than they were in the past as are the escalating rates of asthma and allergies. It is no longer considered a luxury to have air conditioning. It is as mainstream and important as heat and ventilation. Comfortable building temperatures not only protect our resources like books and computers but our most valuable occupants -- our students, teachers, and staff.

It is extremely disheartening to hear people ridicule and trivialize the need for an adequate learning environment for our students. I challenge anyone to name one place that is not air conditioned where learning and thought are the primary functions in the facility. I don't recall being asked as a taxpayer whether or not to approve air conditioning in other publicly funded buildings such as museums, municipal centers, park district facilities/wellness centers, county buildings, jails, community colleges etc…

In order to stay competitive in a global market, it is important to look at a balanced school calendar (year round school). Many school districts throughout the country and all over the world have already adopted this type of calendar. Without air conditioning in our schools, District 303 can not offer this alternative for ongoing, consistent learning throughout the year.

I invite anyone to try and be productive day in and day out in a building where the temperature is above 89 degrees and includes eating lunch in a cafeteria that exceeds 90 degrees on average and the need to participate in gym class knowing that you will not get any relief until the end of the day. Good luck!

Julie Strahl

West Chicago