Town Hall to Address Lack of Air Conditioned Schools

Although fall is settling in, state officials remain heated about the lack of air conditioning in many Baltimore County schools, and they are coming to Arbutus on Tuesday, Oct. 6, to find out how citizens feel about it.

Gov. Larry Hogan said it was “disgraceful” that 52 schools were without air conditioning in Baltimore County, speaking at a Board of Public Works meeting last month after Baltimore County students were dismissed early two consecutive days due to heat.

Chapel Hill and Kingsville elementary schools in the Perry Hall area are without air conditioning, something Councilman David Marks says he is ”fighting” to change.

The governor requested both Superintendent Dallas Dance and County Executive Kevin Kamenetz appear at the Oct. 7 board meeting in Annapolis to discuss the matter of air conditioning in schools.

Before then, citizens have an opportunity to attend an Oct. 6 town hall meeting in Arbutus called “Cool Classrooms,” where lawmakers and school officials can take the community’s temperature on the issue.

Related:

• ‘Disgraceful:’ Hogan on Baltimore County’s Hot Schools
• County Exec Responds to Hot Temps in Baltimore County Public Schools

State and county officials, including representatives from Baltimore County Public Schools, will be at the “Cool Classrooms” town hall on Tuesday, according to a statement from the office of Comptroller Peter Franchot, who spearheaded the event.

“The meeting will give concerned citizens the opportunity to speak directly to Annapolis decision-makers about the lack of air conditioning in dozens of Baltimore County Public Schools, and how the situation is threatening the health and safety of students, teachers and staff,” the statement said.

Approximately 15 percent of public schools in Baltimore County currently lack air conditioning, according to County Executive Kamenetz, who has proposed a plan to have 99 percent air conditioned by 2021 and issued a statement showing the number has been reduced from 52 percent lacking air conditioning in 2010.

The “Cool Classrooms” town hall will be from 6:30–8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Arbutus Town Hall, 1349 Stevens Avenue, Arbutus. The town hall is located near the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department.