| Heating problem resolved after Williams Act complaint (2/08) | | Print | |
| Written by Angela M. Chen | |
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The problem of inconsistent heat that many classrooms are experiencing has been fixed after the Lowell Union Building Committee filed a Williams Act complaint on Feb. 5. A grievance was filed earlier on Jan. 8, but the heating problem persisted. UBC representative Katherine Melvin of the explained that a grievance is at the district level, but a Williams Complaint is at the state level, so it’s more likely that the problem will be dealt with without delay. In addition, the UBC set up meetings with the school district’s Utility Emergency Services Fund Committee and high school assistant superintendent Margaret Chui to solve the heating problem. Melvin explained that the lack of heat was not the only issue. “Most classrooms do have some heat, but the problem is the amount,” Melvin said. “What the union asked for in the grievance was for heat and also some way to control it.” She said that the heating is centrally controlled with one thermostat, causing some classrooms to be too hot or too cold at different times of the day. The UBC is aware that the inconsistent heating at Lowell represents a health hazard to the faculty, staff and students. Melvin said that the heating problem has had several layers of effects in the classroom. “First of all it’s uncomfortable; it causes stress which is a physiological effect and it lowers the immune system response,” Melvin said. “If students and teachers are in this environment too long, they can easily get sick.” She added that it is difficult to maintain positive classroom performance and high tests scores if a majority of the class is cold and sick. According to principal Andy Ishibashi, there have been complaints about ventilation problems since July 2007. Most of these problems have been fixed, but others still await repair. Ishibashi has also sent security around to different classrooms to get a feeling of the air temperature and determine where heating still needs to be fixed. |
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