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Work is currently underway to install split system air conditioners in classrooms along the school's main hall, from the entrance to the gym, and on the second floor. 

Superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV the Auburn Enlarged City School District hopes to complete the work, part of a capital project, before the start of the new school year in September.

In the wake of June's heat wave, Ë®¹ûÅÉAV reached out to all nine Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES school districts to take stock of the air conditioning situation in their buildings. While all districts have at least some AC at the moment, the responding superintendents noted that public concern about it has risen as .

That's why some districts, like Auburn, are working to add air conditioning through capital projects. Others expressed interest in doing so in the future — as long as district funds allow.

'Safer in our buildings'

Every Auburn school building is receiving some air conditioning during this summer's capital project, with the junior high school being the last.

At Auburn High, 27 rooftop HVAC units are being replaced. But the chillers in the building's vents aren't always responsive to the district's air conditioning controls, Pirozzolo said.

Each building library has window AC except for the junior high school's, and one classroom wing of each elementary school is fully air-conditioned.

The superintendent said AC in schools has become a bigger focus over the last 15 years, noting there was none in his buildings when he was a student. But while there has been extreme heat at times like the first week of school last September and in June, Pirozzolo continued, air conditioning is still a "very costly" expense for something that only happens a few weeks of the school year.

During June's heat wave, the district rented portable air conditioning units and placed them in classrooms and hallways. Parents were also reminded that children should dress for the weather and bring water, which the district provided as well. Some parents asked why school wasn't canceled, and Pirozzolo said they can always keep children home if they think they won't be safe.

For many parents, though, he believes the opposite is true. 

"When you have over 62% poverty (in the Auburn district), we know the majority of our kids do not have air conditioning at home," he said. "(They're) better off, being safer in our buildings."

'Not ideal for learning'

Many Cayuga County-area school district superintendents noted to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV that their buildings are several decades old, and retrofitting them for air conditioning can be difficult and expensive.

Weedsport Central School District Superintendent Gregory Stone said its elementary school is over 115 years old and the original portion of its junior-senior high school is 69 years old.

As each building has been renovated over the years, the district has balanced other needs with air conditioning in select spaces, Stone said. Some classrooms and the libraries in both schools have AC, in addition to the cafeteria and main office in the elementary school and offices and the auditorium in the junior-senior high school.

"As we look for future building projects, those are things that we're going to be looking at," Stone said, "especially as we see an increase in our summer temperatures."

Most Weedsport classrooms aren't air-conditioned, the superintendent said, but the district made efforts to keep students safe during the June heat wave. HVAC systems were used to maintain constant air flow, classes were rotated in and out of air-conditioned spaces, and staff made sure students were hydrated. Stone praised everyone for making the most out of the situation.

"It was hot, no doubt, and it's certainty not ideal for learning," he said.

Dr. Jarett Powers, superintendent of the Union Springs Central School District, told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV it plans to install air conditioning at the junior-senior high school this summer as a part of a capital project. He hopes the work, which he called a priority for the district, will be done by the start of the school year. 

Some areas of Union Springs school buildings already have AC, such as the junior-senior high school auditorium and district offices where staff works year-round. Some classrooms are air-conditioned based on student medical needs, Powers added. But the junior-senior high school was built in 1936 and A.J. Smith Elementary School in 1967, so retrofitting them is not always easy.  

"There are roof weight loads to consider when adding chillers, fire walls when you have to cut penetrations, building codes to consider, space in the ceiling to run ductwork," Powers said, "and the cost."

Port Byron Central School District Superintendent Mike Jorgensen said less than 40% of its buildings have AC, including the libraries and the junior-senior high school auditorium and main gymnasium.

A capital project, approved by voters in December 2022, is adding air conditioning to spaces being renovated into STEAM classrooms. Renovations to the district’s art rooms and a multipurpose room in the elementary school will include air conditioning as well. Overall, Jorgensen said, AC is being added to 15 to 20 of the district's classrooms, and about 60% of them will have it.

Cato-Meridian Central School District Superintendent Dr. Terry Ward said the junior-senior high school cafeteria and gymnasium currently have air conditioning, but the building's science, technology and agriculture classrooms are poised to get it via the district's current $33.1 million capital project. It will also be added to the elementary school's gymnasium, library media center and auditorium.

Southern Cayuga Central School District Superintendent Patrick Jensen said its air-conditioned spaces include school libraries and auditoriums, which were used during the June heat wave.

Moravia Central School District Superintendent John Birmingham and Skaneateles Central School District Superintendent Eric Knuth did not respond to requests for comment by Ë®¹ûÅÉAV.

'Weather patterns are changing'

Most of Jordan-Elbridge High School has been air-conditioned since 2011 as a result of a capital project.

But the elementary school, middle school and Jordan-Elbridge Dynamic Intermediate School mostly have AC through window units, which district Superintendent Jim Froio said is not practical for providing air to an entire building. He told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV only the middle school library, auditorium, administrative offices and conference rooms, and the elementary school's main office, are fully air-conditioned.

However, the district is considering different ways to add AC to those buildings.

Earlier this year, Froio said, the district submitted an energy performance grant application to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Jordan-Elbridge is also developing a capital project with air conditioning plans for a vote this fall. If the district receives the grant it will use that to support the AC work, Froio said, and the plans would be removed from the capital project. 

Meanwhile, younger students were given half-days to keep them safe during the June heat wave. The district is looking into scheduling more next June, Froio said, until it has "an AC solution."

"I just feel like (with) the way our weather patterns are changing in central New York, that that's going to become common in June," he continued. 

The superintendent agreed that there has been more public support for air conditioning in school buildings over the years.

"Twenty years ago, I don't think anybody would support it, but I think now there's a lot of support for that out there," he said.

"I would think, unless you want to roll the dice with the weather, that everyone's going to have to look at some type of AC option eventually."