Heat records fall, again

Joey Clinton was the most popular kid at recess on Wednesday. The sixth-grader at Centennial Middle School in Spokane Valley helped his classmates cope with record-breaking temperatures by spraying them with his “Cool Mist Blaster.”

“It’s really hard to study when it’s so hot,” said Joey.

It wasn’t only hot outside – it was hotter than a Bunsen burner inside the school’s science room, where the temperature topped 90 degrees by early afternoon. The school doesn’t have air conditioning.

“Students are in the June mode. They act like they’re graduating tomorrow. I keep reminding them that they have a month to go,” said science teacher Joe McCollum.

Centennial Principal Pam Francis said they’re trying to keep classrooms as cool as possible by turning off lights, closing blinds and putting fans in the rooms. They also encourage students to bring water bottles.

“It’s actually even warmer in the fall and for a longer period of time. Fifteen years ago, I would have come to school in nylons,” said Francis, dressed in a short-sleeve blouse and Capri pants.

Almost all of the schools in the West Valley School District are without air conditioning, with the exception of Spokane Valley High School. When West Valley High School renovation is completed theschool will have air conditioning.

Spokane Public Schools has 23 schools without air conditioning.

The schools built in the 1980s are air-conditioned, but several older schools such as Finch, Adams and Pratt aren’t.

Chase is the only middle school in the district with air conditioning.

Shadle, Rogers and Ferris high schools don’t have air conditioning but will when they are remodeled over the next few years, said Kevin Morrision, technical specialist of facility services for the district.

Tim Trout, assistant principal at Shadle, feels the students’ and teachers’ pain.

“It gets pretty nasty, especially on the third floor, but that’s probably not as bad as in the annex. A couple of those rooms get the sun on both sides. Teachers bring their own fans. You’ve got 28 bodies in a classroom … that adds another 90 degrees per person,” said Trout.

The Mead and East Valley school districts have made it the standard to have all their buildings air-conditioned.

Teachers and coaches in schools without air conditioning are making adjustments to their daily plans. Baseball practice was canceled at Centennial Middle School on Wednesday. Coach Alan Beck said they were fortunate enough to have a bye this week.

“It’s just not worth it. The kids are sluggish. They drink a lot of water, but we still don’t want them to get dehydrated,” said Beck.

Central Valley district has a mix of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned schools. In 1994 when University Elementary was remodeled the decision was made to forgo air conditioning and install sod on the playground.

Air conditioning was once considered a luxury, but teachers see the effects the extreme heat has on learning.

Rose Hone’s afternoon kindergarten class at University Elementary struggle to make it through the day. The students’ faces are pink and perspiration dots their foreheads.

“I can really tell the difference between the a.m. and p.m. classes. This time of day these kids are done,” said Hone.

Principal Sue Lennick agreed. “This is good learning time that’s missed. Teachers are making adjustments to pack as much critical curriculum as they can in the morning when it’s cooler. You can see the glazed looks on their faces. When kids aren’t comfortable, learning doesn’t take place.”