Although Alameda’s average temperature is around 68 degrees, we have about a dozen days per year where temperatures rise into the 80s, 90s, or occasionally low 100s. Because most AUSD schools are not air conditioned, this can result in uncomfortable conditions for staff and students alike. Please read the following FAQs to learn how AUSD monitors and responds to excessive heat in its facilities.
How does AUSD monitor heat at its schools?
In July 2024, the California Department of Public Health issued new guidelines for schools during periods of extreme heat. Under those guidelines, schools need to monitor the
National Weather Service's "Heat Risk Forecast" and then identify the risk of heat-related impacts and necessary modifications according to color codes. ("Heat Risk" takes into account not only the local temperature but other conditions, including how unusual the heat is for the location and time of year, how long the heat will last, and and heat illness data from the Centers for Disease Control.)
What can teachers do to reduce temperatures in their classrooms?
Teachers can use fans, open windows, and take classes outside (or to cooler areas on campus, if they are available).
How many fans are available in AUSD?
AUSD has distributed a substantial supply of fans to the sites over the last several years. In addition, we buy an additional 40 fans per year to replenish the stock. If schools need more fans, we ask that they submit a work order with the number of fans requested and the classrooms that need them.
When would we close schools?
There is no legal threshold for closing schools due to heat. If temperatures climbed high enough for us to consider that, we would need to balance concerns about heat with the needs of working families and the importance of continuing to provide instruction to students.
Why don’t the schools have air conditioning?
Currently, about 50% of AUSD classrooms have air conditioning. Due to the age of our facilities, most classroom buildings cannot handle the electrical load imposed by new AC units, whether portable or installed.
While some of our existing buildings are scheduled to receive air conditioning as part of our facilities bond program, updating our electrical systems to add air conditioning to all of our existing buildings could be prohibitively expensive. For instance, installing a new electrical infrastructure and HVAC units for seven rooms at ACDC alone cost $4 million – and those units were refurbished ones from Wood Middle School.
Going forward, all new AUSD buildings will include centralized air conditioning. In the meantime, we are exploring the viability of installing ceiling fans in classrooms that have no air conditioning to see if that helps keep the rooms cooler. We are also exploring the option of installing "split-level" air conditioning for some classrooms. These may requie new electricial connections, however.
We would likely will need to decide which option is best for which classroom on a case by case basis, looking at such factors as sun exposure and electrical infrastructure. Due to the expense, we would also have to decide which facility projects would need to be canceled or delayed in order to fund these cooling measures.