PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Several schools within the School District of Philadelphia were dismissed early on Monday due to a lack of heat. The district says they’re working on the issues case by case.
“That’s why it’s really imperative the district put a process in place to evaluate and monitor these buildings before they send them back in them,” explained Arthur Steinberg, the president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.
The union is calling out the school district for allowing students and staff to go to school on Monday despite having buildings without adequate heat.
“In one room, someone claimed it was 38 degrees. Even if they are off a little, even 45, that’s pretty bad,” stressed Steinberg.
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Steinberg says students and staff were wearing jackets indoors because of how cold it was.
“We know that kids learn better and teachers teach better when they’re face to face, but not when the buildings are freezing cold,” said Steinberg.
The district had to dismiss several schools early Monday because of heat-related issues, including Farrell and Greenberg elementary schools, the U School and Parkway Center City Middle College.
The district said safety remains a top priority as they work to navigate the age of some of their buildings, combined with frigid temperatures.
“I am not at this point saying the entire district should be virtual, but they know where they have difficulties keeping heat in the buildings and they should take advantage of that technology,” said Steinberg.
The teachers’ union is pushing for virtual learning where schools are experiencing these heat issues.
The district said they are continuing to address concerns.
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