Schools Tackle Heat, Air-Conditioning Woes

Facing the ire of teachers and parents, Orange Unified School District is finally starting a $13-million program to repair heating and air-conditioning units at a number of campuses.

Bob Campbell, the district’s new maintenance director, explained why students in at least six of the district’s 36 schools sit in classrooms with no heat or air-conditioning: “You have a 30-year old school district, and you don’t have [an equipment] replacement program.”

Campbell presented a timeline showing how the $1.8 million that trustees allocated last fall for some repairs will be spent through November. The district has yet to determine how the rest of the repairs will be funded.

The first schools targeted--Prospect, Fletcher, Crescent, Anaheim Hills and Panorama elementary schools and El Modena High School--are in the worst shape, Campbell said.

Each of the combined heating-and air-conditioning roof units will cost about $42,000 and require a crane and helicopter for installation.

Asked by maintenance has delayed so long, Campbell said: “I don’t think priorities were what they should have been.”

Teachers and parents agreed and told trustees last week that they were grateful for the promised repairs but angry about how long the problem has gone on.

“I’m not here to blame you, but I will express my displeasure at your lack of oversight,” said David Reger, president of the teacher’s union.