‘There is no excuse’: 29 CMS schools dealing with air conditioning problems

CHARLOTTE — Channel 9 has learned that many buildings in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district are having air conditioning problems.

Alexandria Boyd said that her 16-year-old daughter, Deandria, has contracted COVID-19 less than one week after starting classes at North Mecklenburg High School. Boyd said that broken air conditioning in the school is partially to blame.

[CMS addresses A/C problems, teacher vacancies on first day of school]

She said that it is too hot inside, and students are not wearing masks.

“We have been in this pandemic this whole year,” Boyd said.

She believes that because of the lack of air conditioning, the threat of COVID-19 has increased.

Channel 9 learned that 29 CMS elementary, middle and high schools are dealing with HV/AC problems.

The issue at Myers Park High School was so bad that parents raised money to buy fans to place throughout the school.

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“It’s a problem, at this point, when you have multiple schools that don’t have sufficient A/C to help control the germs that these kids are breathing,” Boyd said.

CMS Board of Education Chair Elyse Dashew said that the district has a shortage of HV/AC staff, and they’re now offering $1,000 bonuses to help recruit employees and get the A/C working again.

Boyd said the school district should prioritize fixing the air conditioning.

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“Let’s get an outside contractor in at this point,” Boyd said. “Let’s contract out. Give someone else a small business an opportunity to come and help the school. To me, there is no excuse.”

CMS said it is contracting vendors to assist with fixing the problem.

Below is the list of schools affected: