As the summer heat wave continues to grip the city, schools in Newark are facing a daunting challenge: keeping their students cool and comfortable in sweltering classrooms. With many of the district’s schools lacking air conditioning, administrators are scrambling to find ways to mitigate the effects of the heat on students’ learning and well-being.
The problem is particularly acute in older schools, where outdated infrastructure and lack of funding have left them without modern cooling systems. In some cases, temperatures in classrooms have soared to over 90 degrees, making it difficult for students to focus and learn. “It’s like trying to learn in a sauna,” said one frustrated student
School officials are doing their best to cope with the situation, distributing fans and water to students, and even setting up temporary cooling centers in some schools. However, these measures are only a Band-Aid solution to a deeper problem. “We need a long-term fix,” said Newark Schools Superintendent, Roger León. “Our students deserve better than to be stuck in hot, uncomfortable classrooms.”
The issue is not just about comfort; it’s also about equity. Many of the schools without air conditioning are located in low-income neighborhoods, where students already face a range of challenges outside of the classroom. “It’s unfair that our students have to deal with this on top of everything else,” said a local parent.
The district is exploring options for upgrading its schools, including seeking funding from state and federal sources. However, with budget constraints and competing priorities, it’s unclear when relief will come. In the meantime, students and teachers will have to continue to suffer through the heat, hoping that a solution comes soon. As one teacher put it, “Our students are resilient, but they shouldn’t have to be.”
