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Friday, August 24, 2007
Hot Enough For Ya?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On my lunch break, I sometimes walk down toward Georgia State University, a few blocks away. There’s one shop I pass by that leaves its doors open and keeps the air conditioning on full blast.
Walk by the door and you walk through a nice little column of cold, manufactured air. Yes, in record-setting heat, air conditioning feels absolutely heaven-sent.
Unfortunately, students and teachers aren’t always so lucky when it comes to experiencing the wonders of A/C.
Air-conditioning problems in old public schools — as we’ve seen in DeKalb County this week — are common. Sometimes even new schools have difficulty getting everything in working order.
And students can’t always get relief on the school bus, either. Most, including those in Fulton County, aren’t equipped with A/C. Sure, the windows open, but only half-way.
When I took a tour of Cherokee High School earlier this month, we stopped in the old gymnasium where freshmen were told they’d be taking personal fitness class. It was stuffy and humid and the large industrial fans churning high above the wooden bleachers weren’t helping matters.
It reminded me that gyms aren’t always air-conditioned, either.
Now, with billions in taxpayer money being spent on school construction throughout metro Atlanta, you’d think someone would make air-conditioning old gyms and school buses a priority.
Wouldn’t you?
