When parents send their kids off for the first day of school each year, they expect basic needs like air conditioning to be met. Since Georgia starts school in the brutal heat of August, this is a must and not a luxury.
But for students at Kingsley Elementary School in Dunwoody the school year began, with malfunctioning air conditioning units leaving students and staff in sweltering conditions. The problem has been ongoing since late July, when the air conditioning units first failed, and temporary solutions are in place while permanent repairs are planned.
Key Details
- What’s New: The AC units at Kingsley Elementary have been out of order since late July, and despite temporary measures, such as fans, the cooling system remains insufficient as students return to class.
- Context: The school’s HVAC system is original to the building and is experiencing frequent breakdowns. The DeKalb County School District claims that funding and parts for repairs are challenging to secure for the older air conditioning system.
- Impact: Classrooms have reached temperatures of 85 to 90 degrees. Parents and staff have expressed concerns about the impact on students’ health and learning conditions.
Data Point
Kingsley Elementary is classified as a Title 1 school, meaning it serves a high percentage of students from low-income families. These students often rely on the school environment for consistent access to comfortable learning conditions.
What’s Next
The school district is actively seeking long-term solutions, which include sourcing parts for the existing system and potentially planning a comprehensive HVAC replacement project. In the meantime, temporary air conditioning units will remain in use, and the district will monitor temperatures daily.
Call to Action
Concerned residents and parents can attend DeKalb County School Board meetings to express their views and advocate for faster repairs and infrastructure investments at Kingsley Elementary.
Additional Resources
Questions: There are some burning questions DeKalb parents have that school officials will need to answer.
- Why are repairs for crucial infrastructure in schools not planned for and part of each year’s budget?
- Should DeKalb County start school later when the weather is cooler?
- Should there be plans for virtual learning when air conditioning units fail in schools?
