Vomiting, cramps and lethargy: As heat rises, kids are sweltering in schools with no A/C

[Gavra Mead Barcelona]

2. Not fair!

Last edited Sun Apr 13, 2025, 02:58 PM - Edit history (1)

This is a textbook example of environmental injustice—where the communities most vulnerable to climate impacts also face the greatest barriers to mitigation. And without statewide data on school HVAC conditions, it's hard to advocate effectively for targeted funding.

Children in hot weather with no ductless heating and cooling systems in the classes, and often low-income school districts, are paying the price for decades of underinvestment. Vomiting, cramps, and lethargy shouldn’t be part of anyone’s school day, let alone the daily reality for thousands of kids. It’s unacceptable that in one of the wealthiest states in the country, schools are forced to choose between keeping the lights on and keeping classrooms safe and cool.

Programs like CalSHAPE are a start, but they’re clearly not enough—and now that it’s closed to new applications, many schools are left stranded. The fact that Governor Newsom vetoed a plan for a climate-resilient schools master plan, and that there's no statewide tracking of HVAC conditions, only compounds the problem.