With temperature humidity indexes hovering past 100 degrees, nearly 100,000 students and teachers whose schools were already in session because of the Track E program are sweltering. CPS officials said the hot weather caught them by surprise. What? Last time I checked it was always hot in August!
Chicago Public Schools’ administrators bought 1100 fans, but we know that just blows the hot air around. Schools could not install window air conditioning units because of Chicago building code rules. But CPS CEO Ron Huberman said, “CPS was working with the building department and the commissioner to work through that hurdle.” The only way to “work through that hurdle” would be to ignore the building code. Try doing that in your own home and an inspector will be by to fine you quicker than the revenue department can call for them.
It was discussed calling the hot days, “snow days,” and shut the schools, but CPS Huberman did not want to “waste” a snow day on a hot day! Better to swelter than freeze.
Solution? CPS bought bottled water for the students and teachers. What? Bottled water? Isn’t that environmentally unfriendly? Isn’t it expensive? Don’t schools have drinking fountains and paper cups for the students to use to quench their thirst?
It is also kind of ironic that according to analysis of industry data by the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch, filtered tap water makes up an increasing share of bottled water -- rising from 32.7 percent in 2000 to 47.8 percent in 2009. "These are the numbers the bottled water industry doesn't want you to see," said Wenonah Hauter, the group's executive director. So CPS PAID for water that might have been the very same water that comes from in the tap!
Why wouldn’t CPS officials, being aware of the budget deficit, have realized that Chicago tap water is basically FREE and bottled water costs money!
How clean is Chicago’s tap water? On the front page of the city’s web site for the Chicago Department of Water Management there is a letter posted by Mayor Daley. It reads,” The purified tap water provided by the Chicago Department of Water Management meets or exceeds all state and Federal standards as regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Chicago water is second to none, and together we can work to keep it the most enviable resource in the world.”
So when we read the stories about the hundreds of millions of dollars that Chicago Public Schools are in debt; just remember they are pouring money down the drain.
Teresa K writes:
ReplyDelete"Complete Waste of Money - paper cups and large orange cooler is what the
summer camp programs use - another stupid person in a position to make
decision - GEEZ"
Kaz writes:
ReplyDeleteCPS continues to piss money down the drain! (sorry for the crude comment)…lol
Of course, it being so hot and humid IN AUGUST, IN THE DOG-DAYS OF SUMMER, IN CHICAGO (uh, duh! I so love your comments!), most of that water will be re-absorbed back into the students’ and teachers’ bodies…but eventually, they’ll have to urinate…so more people will be getting up and out of their seats to request a bathroom pass; possibly missing valuable learning time in the classroom. Oh, the irony…or the iron in the water…?!
Ok, I wish to God…seriously…that money were no object. That in life, EVERYONE gets to enjoy the creature comforts, like air conditioning on a hot, humid, stifling, sticky day. I know this is not realistic or possible. However, before I ask if the bottled water was cold (because frankly, don’t hand me a warm bottle of anything on a hot, muggy-ugly day!), maybe they should have invested in dry-ice blocks and positioned the fans (if some were floor box-style fans) behind the ice blocks.
Or, perhaps in the world of the CPS, I’m guessing there are some schools that are located in more economically challenged wards than others, perhaps they can reach out to ComEd or other corporations to consider sponsoring/funding the installation of central a/c units…? I hate to put any burden on any entity, but sometimes we have to reach out to those individuals and/or companies, organizations, etc. that might have creative financially solutions…?
Maybe create a (ok, don’t laugh here…) but a sweat-equity program that these corporations can work with the students (who might have to do community work towards graduation credits…?...I know some schools require that now and it’s not because of disciplinary issues or considered punishment, more-so a local Peace Corps type of giving back to the community/earning life experience)…
My personal opinion? Whether (or should I type Weather?!) I’m a student or teacher, we’re both in the same school and classroom and are suffering together, so don’t hand me a voucher for school supplies or an incentive to get an A and earn a coupon for a free pizza at the end of the semester (i.e., from, let’s say a Lou Malnatti’s or Geno’s…and this isn’t against those businesses), just put money towards central air and see how much better I can focus, concentrate, learn and actually be alert (or as much as one can be in school!) during these hot, humid, muggy-ugly days.
I admit to my own ignorance that I don’t know what it would cost to do this, especially in those older, bigger schools…but there HAS to be a way. I mean, truly, in this world, there is so much money floating around and some are blessed that it floats their way…and while we know life isn’t fair…I can’t help but think an athlete…shall I say a baseball player?...who is gifted with talents that allow him to play a game for a living…hire a good attorney and sports agent…garner all the accolades and spoils that he can command…makes $36-million just for showing up…even if he sits on the bench…?...can’t maybe someone like that say…hey, CPS here’s $100,000.00…now go call ABC-XYZ Heating & Air and have them do the job.
Of McDonald’s, Sears, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Target, etc. (oh, I know they have their own versions of giving back to schools, education, etc), but let’s face it:
Money in the average consumers’ hands (or what little there is of it lately) typically gets spent at these types of stores, so really, it’s a circle that should re-circulate back to their communities…and into the schools…just like a fan (box or otherwise)!
Sharon writes:
ReplyDeleteAs a retired Chicago high school principal of a landmark building, I can tell you that the cost of air conditioning classrooms is astronomical. I know this from personal experience, having used my school's funding to install both window air conditioners (IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL BUILDING CODES) in addition to a central air system on the school's 4th floor.
We could not afford to air condition all the classrooms, but only the air conditioned rooms were used during the summer. The exception was the gym. The schools are hotter than Hades in MAY! June, July, August and September are unbearable.
As for bottled water, they've been handing that out for years! This is nothing new. Keeping the water cold is another matter. Another waste of money!
This is really a heath and safety issue. Imagine 30 plus students and a teacher in a room that is 90 degrees! You wouldn't put a cat or dog in the room, let alone an asthmatic student. Where is the Board of Health?"