The majority of Woodside does not have air conditioning units due to a multitude of constraints. Despite record-breaking high temperatures these last couple weeks, Woodside has not furthered their push for new air conditioning units.
Concerns about Woodside being without air conditioning came up about 15 years ago. Administrative Vice-Principal Charles Velschow said that only about 25% of the classrooms have air conditioning currently. Work to install more air conditioning units began last spring after superintendent Crystal Leach instituted it in the budget. However, the project stalled following dramatic cost overturns. A new contractor has since picked up the air conditioning project and will begin soon. In the meantime, attempts have been made to mitigate the affects of the heat wave in classrooms without air conditioning.
“I have created what’s called a hot day buddy system,” Velschow said. “So that we are basically using all of the air conditioned space in the afternoon if it gets exceedingly hot. Almost all the teachers who don’t have air conditioning, if they have an afternoon class, [are] paired with [somebody who has an air conditioned classroom so] they can go to that classroom or space.”
This buddy system gets students and teachers out of uncomfortable temperatures, but it also means a lot of classes have to be in the same room together.
“That means putting three or four classes in the library and six classes in the performing arts center, which is not ideal,” Velschow said.
Though this is a temporary fix, many agree that Woodside is in need of air conditioning. However, the process isn’t easy, according to Velschow. The electrical system throughout the whole school first has to be updated. Then, cement pads have to be poured for the air conditioning units to sit on.
When English teacher Lisa Camera started working here 36 years ago, not having air conditioning didn’t seem to be a huge issue. But Camera and other teachers have been asking for air conditioning for around 10 years now. There have been a lot of unanswered questions and speculations around why teachers and students haven’t been getting air conditioning.
“I think it feels like it hasn’t been a huge priority. It’s great when the district office people are sitting in their air conditioned offices,” Camera said. “I think it’s that people don’t realize how miserable it is and how it really does impact teaching and learning.”
Freshman Paige Beauchamp-Crandon agrees that the lack of air conditioning, specifically in the E-wing, is especially hard to deal with.
“I feel like a lot of the classrooms are super run down and old, so they’re not able to actually get up to date technology like [some of] the other classrooms here, specifically [in] the E-wing,” Beauchamp-Crandon said.
Not having air conditioning has affected teaching and learning significantly. The hotter the classrooms are, the harder it is to teach and learn, according to teachers and students. People at Woodside hope this problem will be combated soon.
“The expectation is now that, hopefully, by the fall of 2025, everywhere on campus that currently does not have air conditioning will have air conditioning,” Velschow said.
