The New Providence Board of Education promised parents that new air conditioning will be installed by the end of summer 2024. However, as the school year begins, many are asking: Where is the air conditioning?
This project is part of a $22 million bond referendum approved in July 2022, aimed at renovating district facilities. The bond referendum is when residents vote whether to allow a school board to borrow funds by selling bonds for school construction or repairs. Once approved, these funds are repaid over 20 years via property taxes.
According to a letter from Superintendent of Schools Lauren Zirpoli to the school community, the air conditioning project began “in October 2023, [when] the Board of Education approved and awarded the bids for our projects, and we immediately began working with our architect and contractors to order all necessary material for installation this summer 2024.”
The project was then postponed as the manufacturer took more time than expected to deliver switchgear and unit ventilators, which were essential for the air conditioning component at the school.
According to the New Providence Board of Education Meeting Minutes, “The switch gears for all buildings have a delivery date of February 2025. Therefore, the air conditioning will be available at the earliest in the Spring of 2025.”
Many parents, however, were not pleased with this information.
According to the New Providence Board of Education Meeting Minutes for July 25, 2024, Molly Stassfurth, a parent in the district said: “It’s important for our children’s learning environment. It’s important for our teachers and their ability to have the best climate to teach our students, and it’s important for our community to be able to bring in the best possible candidates for our school district.”
Students also expressed concerns.
Freshman Ammy Montes said: “Since we don’t have air conditioning, we have to open the windows, which makes the classroom colder. I can’t concentrate on the material because I’m worrying about my body temperature.”