OUSD conducted a 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!

It also documented what community members have been telling OUSD for years:

• It's dangerously hot: Overheating is most severe in August, September, October, and May.

• It makes learning too hard: During these peak months, nearly 100% of school days experience indoor conditions deemed scientifically "too hot" during the mid-day peak (12 pm – 4 pm). We're losing more than 40% of the school days to heat!

• Some rooms get no relief: Even in "cooler" months like November or March, certain south-facing classrooms still experience hours that feel "too hot" due to solar heat gain through windows.

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?

Watch the answer below.

This didn't sit well with us. 

We decided to act. 

It worked - better than expected. 

This 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. 

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.