With classes starting soon, HISD is fast-tracking HVAC upgrades after more than 11,000 AC complaints across campuses last school year.
HOUSTON — With classes set to begin in less than a week, Houston ISD is scrambling to fix air conditioning issues at more than two dozen campuses following thousands of heat-related complaints from the last school year.
The district says new HVAC systems are being installed as part of a long-term project to modernize its facilities, but the work is being fast-tracked at schools with the largest student populations and highest utilization.
Crews were seen this week replacing outdated chillers at the School at St. George Place, aiming to regulate classroom temperatures better and boost energy efficiency.
“We have a control team that comes in house at 4:30 in the morning, they check many campuses that are under direct district control to see if we have any chillers under alarm,” said Gianni Ledezma, executive director of facility maintenance for HISD. “Our teams are doing their best to make sure we’re providing that safe, comfortable learning environment for every campus that we oversee.”
While new systems are on the way, some schools — like Heights High School — are using rented temporary chillers in the meantime. The district confirmed those new systems have already been ordered.
Last school year, HISD received more than 11,000 AC-related work order complaints from 261 of its 274 campuses.
KHOU 11 has requested the full list of schools receiving HVAC upgrades and the total cost of the project. We are still waiting to hear back.