SCHOOLS: Why upgrades needed

As a teacher and parent of three children at Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities, I want to share some first-hand insight as to the need for renovations in our district’s older schools.

It may, in our community, be considered a luxury to have air conditioning. But, at the minimum, ventilation and circulation of air are needed. The classrooms at Sorensen (especially the west side) are full-glass walls, unshaded, and only swing open 5 inches or so. On warm fall or early summer days the classrooms can get to be over 90 degrees. The air is stagnant and there are 25-35 kids in 500 square feet.

Some days in the winter, I have to manually turn the vent switch on and off every 10-15 minutes to keep a balanced temperature because of the outdated heating system consisting of a boiler in the basement. It also makes a loud noise and kids sitting near it have difficulty hearing me. It is disruptive to teaching and learning.

I wouldn’t want to be teaching anywhere else, and yes, kids are learning, but they deserve an easier time at it.

MOIRA DuCOEUR

Coeur d’Alene