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OUSD knows that improving school buildings through "passive mitigation" works
OUSD knows that improving school buildings through "passive mitigation" works
OUSD conducted a Thermal Comfort Pilot study from 2022-2023 at Laurel Elementary School, the Manzanita Campus, and West Oakland Middle School.
The study concluded that:
🧊 Air Conditioning is not the only solution -- "off-the-grid measures" (like window replacements, opening windows at night, and roof insulation improvements) can provide significant relief.
These measures are "affordable and achievable for the vast majority of the school year."
90% of the uncomfortably hot school hours could eliminated without A/C!
What did the district do with this information? We have asked! So far, all we can find is:
They are adding thermometers into every classroom at some time in the future (unstated deadline)
They upgraded windows at West Oakland Middle School
Sequoia Elementary decided to install our own thermometers - putting $11 bluetooth-connected thermometers in every classroom and around the yard to get data on just how hot our school is. This data showed us we needed to act now for the safety of the children in classrooms TODAY.
We went to the August 2025 Facilities Meeting to ask: what's the plan?
We went to the August 2025 Facilities Meeting to ask: what's the plan?
District POV.mp4This didn't sit well with us.
This didn't sit well with us.
We decided to act.
We decided to act.
We looked to improve the building envelope of our 100 year old school building using funds and supplies donated by our community. We prioritized what we could immediately implement before any future heat waves.
Luckily for us, we had about 30 days to do the work before back-to-back heat waves in September. We were able to complete the A/C additions and insulation before the first heat wave. We were able to install UV reflective clings on the September 19th inservice day, before the second heat wave.
Sequoia DIY efforts.pdfIt worked - better than expected.
It worked - better than expected.
On average, we cooled classrooms by 2.5 degrees (comparing August heat wave to Sept heat waves). Many classrooms saw a 6-8 degree temperature reduciton.
In the August heat wave, 7 classrooms were above the OSHA threshold (82 degrees) at 2PM, including every Kindergarten classroom & 1st grade classroom. On September 23, only 1 classroom (room 16) was above this threshold.
We have gotten 3 classrooms to remain at 75 degrees or cooler during heat waves. Last year, 0 classrooms could. But, this means that 15 classrooms are between 75-80 degrees (above the recommended temperature for optimal learning) even with these efforts.
September Graphs.pdfThis proved to us that it's possible, and affordable, to cool classrooms TODAY, not at some unspecified future date.
All students in OUSD should have access to cool classrooms, not only students at schools that can raise funds through their parent teacher organizations.
The cost for maintaining safe facilities should not fall on parents and community alone. Oakland's Measure Y raised $750 million for OUSD to repair, upgrade, expand and retrofit existing school buildings. Oakland property owners are paying for these bonds each year (and will pay for them through 2050) through a parcel tax.
A group of 20+ parents and teachers from schools including Laurel, Manzanita SEED, Montera, and Sequoia attended the October Facilities Committee meeting on October 19 to continue conversations with the district and demand action. View the video here (items F1 and F3)
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