It may be wintertime in New York, but Governor Kathy Hochul is preparing for summer heat in the classroom. A new unfunded mandate for New York’s already struggling school districts goes into effect with the passage of a new law that mandates classroom temperatures.
Governor Hochul signed legislation this week requiring that all school districts develop plans to mitigate extreme heat in classrooms and support services spaces and to establish a maximum allowable temperature to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. By setting clear guidelines for extreme heat conditions, the bill will help schools ensure their spaces are conducive to student learning, reduce unnecessary disruptions, and provide for the health and safety of all those in their buildings.
Bob Vecchio, Executive Director, of Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association said, “ While we always want to make sure our students and staff are in safe environments to learn this is another statewide decision that should have been decisions made by local boards of education together with their communities.”
"Extreme heat can significantly impact a student's concentration, focus, and ability to learn,” Governor Hochul said. "With this new law, we are continuing to make the health and safety of our kids and educators a top priority and ensuring that every New York student has access to the safe and comfortable learning environment they deserve."
“Now that this is a statewide mandate, it is also a brand-new unfunded mandate. In addition, districts that don’t have the resources to invest in building-wide cooling systems will make decisions about shortening instructional time for students who need it the most. We learned during COVID that remote learning is not optimal, and some districts may be left with no other option to comply with this new mandate,” Vecchio said
Vecchio added, “Since the legislature has passed this law and the Governor has signed it, we call on them to fully fund it without residents having to pay for it through property taxes to cover any part of the cost.”
“At William Floyd, we always strive to keep the late spring and summer temperatures well below that threshold. As a result of the capital project that was passed in 2017, we installed air conditioning to the remaining buildings that did not have them (John S. Hobart, Nathaniel Woodhull and William Floyd elementary schools). We believe that it is important for students and staff to be comfortable throughout the school day in order to optimize the educational experience,” said James Montalto, Public Relations Director, William Floyd School District
The law (S3397-A/A9011-A) establishes 88 degrees as the maximum temperature in classrooms and support services spaces and requires a plan for the removal of students and staff from these spaces. Where it is practical for the school district to do so, it also creates a definition of extreme heat condition days as well as a standard to measure room temperature.
School districts will also be required to take action to relieve heat-related discomfort when classroom temperatures reach 82 degrees. Such actions can include turning off overhead lights, pulling down shades or blinds, turning on fans, opening classroom doors and windows, turning off electronics, and providing water breaks.