Sweltering classrooms in Beaufort County: HVAC issues persist three weeks into school year
Three weeks into the school year, some students and teachers in Beaufort County School District are still enduring sweltering conditions as air conditioning issues persist, with temperatures previously soaring into the 90s.
About 3% of classrooms across the district are affected, according to district spokesperson Candace Bruder, who noted that the situation remains fluid. Conditions change daily, even hourly, as individual problems are repaired or new ones arise, Bruder explained.
“It goes without saying that even one classroom is too many,” Bruder said.
Schools like Michael C. Riley and Hilton Head Elementary have been particularly impacted by the air conditioning shortages since the start of the school year. At Michael C. Riley, two HVAC units are down, affecting one-third of the school. The HVAC issues were first diagnosed on August 11, with repair parts for the school expected to arrive on September 6.
For other classrooms affected by the lack of air conditioning school district’s Chief Operations Officer Robert Oetting said repairs could take six to 12 months to complete, depending on the specific issues.
Oetting also noted that the district has deferred HVAC maintenance due to funding shortages, adding that the district has about 10 technicians responsible for the HVAC systems across its 32 schools. Funds from the 2019 referendum were not allocated to HVAC projects; however, the 2023 referendum offers a different allocation, with $16.9 million designated for replacing HVAC systems and equipment at only Beaufort High, Beaufort Middle, Port Royal Elementary and Whale Branch Elementary Schools.
In response to the widespread issues, the district is actively conducting repairs, ordering necessary parts and bolstering their HVAC staff with outside contractors, Bruder said. Portable units have also been deployed where feasible to provide temporary relief and school staff are addressing parent concerns as they arise, she added.
This story was originally published September 3, 2024 at 12:05 PM.
