🔥🔥🔥On March 19, a big group of cross-OUSD caregivers showed the school board Facilities Committee that we need to address Oakland's school cooling issues NOW. Our local new station covered our efforts! Please click the article link today and show NBC Bay Area that this is a high-engagement news story worthy of their continuing coverage. And read on to get involved! 🔥🔥🔥
We are caregivers, students, educators, and community members in Oakland, California who want cooler & more equitable classrooms across our district -- so teachers can teach and kids can learn.Â
🥵Temperatures regularly reach 80s and 90s in 2,100 OUSD classrooms. This is a safety threat and equity failure that deepens achievement gaps and health disparities.Â
🚨 Student cognitive performance can increase on average 20% when temperatures cool from 86 to 68 degrees, according to Harvard's Center on the Developing Child (2024).
✅ OUSD’s own study in 2022-2023 showed that "passive measures" like window replacements, roof insulation, and ceiling fans can bring immediate relief without electrical upgrades.Â
✅ A low-cost, quick fix cooling pilot at Sequoia Elementary decreased classroom temperatures by up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit.
The district knows it can take easy, immediate, affordable action.
💰 Measure Y bonds raised $735M for OUSD Facilities, including $8M allocated to heat abatement. These funds should be used for cooling classrooms now.
We don't need more assessments and consultants. Every day makes a difference for our kids and educators.Â
Cool our schools, now!