No refuge at Pueblo City Schools from record hot day

It was a hot and sweaty start to the school year for students in Pueblo City Schools on Wednesday as Pueblo reached a record high of 100 degrees.

“It was pretty hot up in there,” said Roger Montoya, a junior at East High School.

Most of the schools in District 60 don’t have air conditioning. East High School, for example, has an air conditioner in its media room and gym. Some schools that don’t have A/C units are equipped with swamp coolers.

“We’re very proactive in terms of making plans this year to make things as cool and comfortable as possible,” said Scott Jones, director of public relations for the district.

The school board voted to have most schools in the district start classes after Labor Day, to avoid scorching triple-digit temperatures. In addition, Jones said when high temperatures are forecasted, custodians arrive at school the night before to open windows and let cool air circulate throughout the building.

“We also have those large barrel fans in the hallways that keep air circulating as well as smaller fans that can be found in buildings and classrooms actually,” Jones said.

But those fans weren’t enough for students like Morgan Poorman.

“I was embarrassed to even walk around because I was afraid that I was adding to the body odor from the heat,” said the East High School sophomore. “It was fairly embarrassing.”

Poorman’s grandmother, Margaret Jaber, said, “They’re complaining about how the school tests are down and everything but how can these kids do well in school when it’s so hot that they can’t concentrate.”

In 2010, the district tried to pass a bond measure that would have equipped all of its schools with air conditioners but it failed.

Jones said installing air conditioning units in the schools that don’t have it would cost up to $75 million.

If the temperature and conditions inside the school become unbearable, Jones said the district would consider releasing students early for the day.