Schools need solutions for heat

At the start of this school year, Lake Zurich faced record heat index values, which were considered “extremely dangerous” by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, yet Lake Zurich District 95 students attended school — arriving home completely exhausted, drenched in sweat with heat rash and throbbing headaches.

As any teacher will tell you, classroom environment is an essential component for learning. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, if students face conditions where they feel uncomfortable or unsafe, learning ceases to be a priority. Therefore, it is vital that we address the indoor air quality challenges in District 95.

There are many short-term solutions that can be put in place immediately. In 2011, District 95 devised an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan which must be utilized properly. Likewise, the district owns the Gray Wolf, a tool designed to record temperatures and humidity and could be used to get a sampling of temperatures throughout the district in the afternoon on hot days when classrooms are occupied; these temperatures should then be posted on the website for parents’ and community members’ viewing.

Furthermore, the district has a fleet of buses and three air-conditioned schools; on hot days, children from the five schools without air conditioning could be bused to cool spaces within our district.

Lastly, the board could implement a plan for emergency days for the heat just as they have one in place for the snow. We must use the resources we have to make changes now for health and safety of our students and staff.

Finally, it is important for us to stay informed. Scientists tell us the heat is here to stay, so it’s important we work together to create both short-term and long-term solutions for District 95.

Andrea Trudeau

Kildeer