New Providence Schools Scramble To Fix AC During Heat Advisory

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ — With a Heat Advisory in effect and heat indexes expected to reach 97 degrees, the New Providence School District is racing to fix air conditioning problems affecting classrooms across all three of its school buildings.

Superintendent Lauren Zirpoli, Ed.D., notified parents, guardians and staff in a letter Tuesday that contractors are on site diagnosing and repairing affected systems in real time. She said many classroom cooling systems are functioning normally, but the district is working to reach full operational capacity across all three buildings as quickly as possible.

"Our facilities team and contractors will continue to work diligently to identify outstanding issues so that the air conditioning is fully operational in all of our school buildings," Zirpoli wrote.

School administrators are monitoring conditions in each building and each affected classroom to ensure the learning environment remains safe for students and staff, she said.

The National Weather Service has posted a Heat Advisory through 8 p.m. Wednesday, with heat indexes expected to reach as high as 99 degrees. Extreme heat and humidity significantly increase the risk of heat-related illness, particularly for those in spaces without adequate cooling.

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