I had to smile reading the quote about Indy being like a sauna. We had several public schools scheduled to have air conditioning installed just this year and they had to have it postponed due to our property tax fiasco. I grew up going to one of these same schools without air and we just sucked it up. But I do think they will be able to teach better in an air conditioned room.
I am actually on line to research the legal responsibilities and ramifications of a parents group. Our principal wants to have some control of our budget and this doesn't seem quite right.

Parent in Indy!

The building is owned and maintained by your board of education. They must follow guidelines when installing or building things at the school. If the PTO were to purchase this as a gift to the school, the board of education would have to be involved so it meets all state & local gov't guidelines. They also would be the ones that would have to budget maintainance for the unit.

although it is a well-meaning thought, you need to have their cooperation. STart by attending your board of education meetings. This is higher than your principal and he/she actually has no say in this--its the board of ed. Speak to them at the general meeting and you may have to make appointments to discuss it further. Maybe the PTO can split the cost or something if they don't have the funds. But the Board of Ed should use their resources to solicit bids from general contractors, get signed legal contracts, etc for this project. The PTO can be silent partners on the project.

it doesn't hurt to ask!

Excellent points all around.

I've created a website and gathered documentation from solid sources such as the Centers for Disease Control, the US Department of Education (on school security) to studies showing increased test scores in cooler environments:

I hope I'm not violating any rules by posting it here, but I think I've done a good job of documenting the facts and issues supporting the health concerns around A/C:

ACinHeyworthElementary.com

Hehe (good one popemobile) Why would anyone want to harm the CEO of one of the biggest corporations in the world?

I'd go more for the quality of education than security issue (though I could see it - especially if their not closed at night)

• What the mean temp, the highest temp while school in session?
• Classroom atmosphere (temp inside and students figitting, temprament)
• Test scores and discipline #'s

I grew up in Indiana and have kids in school in CA and their is no way the schools could function (well they could function but in the dinosaur days - school was run around the weather and only till 6-8th grade and the farming season) in 110 deg weather and 100% humidity (even with windows, doors open (Indy would be like attending class in a sauna (with your clothes on) and CA would be too windy (40MPH) and hot (90- 110)

Many studies have been done on heats effects on learning, attentiveness, anger (one reason the US Army holds most classes in rooms with A/C cranked - you cant fall asleep and are very attentive )

I'd make a list of pros and cons, maybe get a local A/C contractor (or 2) to estimate cost of installation and retrofit of school (especially if abestos is still in buildings materials, ie tiles, walls, ceiling panels -- that would be your districts major cost/headache -- the removal)

Good stuff here. This always a tricky decision.

I think the distinctions are fairly clear when it comes to state and national politics (little upside for the local group and lots of potential for diminishing the core goals of building involvment and community) and then get more grey as you get to local town politics (school budgets) and even moreso on an issue at your school (air conditioning).

One real advantage of a well-working PTO or PTA is that more and more parents are getting involved, informed and engaged. And then when there is a contentious issue, there are more parents already around to be heard. But they don't have to be head through your PTO.

Tim

PS -- I'm one of those who often falls on the suck-it-up side of the spectrum. And I don't see open windows (letting fresh air in) as a real security issue. We can't put all our kids in little PopeMobiles with bulletproof glass and armed security. (How's that for kindling a debate?)

Thank you CrewChief, and yes you ARE as smart as you sound :cool:

I certainly don't want to exclude anyone from our PTO, just the opposite. The falacy in my thinking was, "who in the world could disagree about the safety and security of the children?" but the truth is, there are people who are saying "suck it up, I did without a/c as a kid and I'm fine."

So at this point I'm not even looking for concensus, I'm just going in with my own data.

Thanks again for helping me to see the bigger picture