SPOKANE,Wash. – Spokane Public Schools opened their doors Tuesday facing a sweltering first day, with temperatures soaring too 101 degrees and many school buildings lacking air conditioning. educators are employing creative strategies – from misting units to rotating classroom schedules – to keep students safe as the region experiences a heat wave.
The lack of climate control impacts hundreds of students across the district, particularly at older facilities like Madison Elementary, where students sought refuge in nearby Franklin Park and around a newly purchased misting unit. The situation underscores a long-standing facilities gap and fuels support for a $200 million bond measure on the November ballot that promises air conditioning in new and renovated schools.
Madison Elementary Principal Sarah Holter purchased a small misting unit on Monday in a last-ditch effort to provide relief for students during recess, as the school’s blacktop offers no shade. “To me, it’s already been a grate day, because again, kids are just so happy to be here,” Holter said, speaking as three fans whirred behind her. “This is their comfort zone. This is where they want to be. We’ll just keep working until we get what we need for our kids.”
The district is utilizing available resources to mitigate the heat. Some portables at Madison have functioning air conditioning, and teachers are rotating classes through these spaces for brief periods of respite.
A potential solution lies with a bond measure voters will consider in November. If passed,the bond would fund the demolition and replacement of Madison Elementary with a modern “field house” operated in partnership with the city parks department and Boys and Girls Club,complete with air conditioning. Balboa and Indian Trail schools coudl also receive HVAC improvements,potentially through repurposing equipment from a planned replacement of Adams elementary.
One student at Madison became overly cooled by the misting unit, requiring a change of clothes, illustrating the challenges of improvising solutions. Despite the difficulties, Holter praised her staff for their resourcefulness in ensuring student well-being. “Our teachers and staff are thoughtful in finding creative ways to cool off their students,” she stated.
