Grayslake District 46 looking at cooling Avon Center School

Avon Center School Principal M. Lynn Barkley says it's not a stretch to believe air conditioning is needed in her building.

While outside temperatures on two days last week teetered near 90 degrees, it was even warmer in the Round Lake Beach school that's part of the Grayslake Elementary District 46 system.

"It was 100 degrees in those classrooms," Barkley said during a recent District 46 meeting.

School board members have been discussing the idea of installing an air-conditioning system at Avon in time for the next academic year. Avon, Grayslake Middle, Meadowview and Woodview schools do not have air conditioning.

But officials say the configuration of Avon's hallways and other problems with the building prevent a good flow of fresh air when warm weather arrives. Built in 1950, Avon is the district's oldest school.

Superintendent Ellen Correll said small windows that "open up just a very little bit" don't provide an opportunity for much heat relief at Avon.

In addition, officials said there are various reasons why it's not possible to open the doors in an effort to allow fresh air to flow into Avon.

"It's not just fire," school board President Mary Garcia said. "It's with the new lockdown procedures. We have to be able to close that door in an instant and lock it. And you cannot do that with a prop."

District 46 officials have been working on the planned Avon project with Ohio-based Fanning Howey, an architecture, engineering and design firm. An exact cost for the Avon work has yet to be determined.

Avon, which serves children in kindergarten through fourth grade, became part of District 46 in 1988. It had been one building operating as Avon District 47.

Volunteers built Avon's gymnasium/auditorium that was ready in time for eighth-grade graduation in 1961.