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John Daley Reporting
The school year is getting started this week for a number of school districts
around the state and a number of them are dealing with the annual challenge
of coping with the late summer heat.
Many schools like West High in Salt Lake City already have air conditioning
or have been retrofitted with it, but in many Utah school districts, a number
of schools do not have air conditioning.
That has left school districts to come up with innovative ways to beat the
heat At Crestview Elementary in the Granite school district, Karen Pehrson's
fifth grade class was enduring 90-degree temperatures this afternoon.
While they worked on their artwork, their teacher used a spray bottle to
keep them cool.
Each student is urged to bring a water bottle to class and is allowed to go
to the water fountain for a drink whenever they need it. Also, Mrs. Pehrson
bought five fans for her room and once a day--as per school policy--the
students are allowed to have a popsicle.
In the Jordan School District, 20 of its 83 schools do now have air
conditioning. The district estimates it would cost 50 million dollars in
taxpayer money to install AC. In Salt Lake, similar numbers -- seven
out of 36 schools do not have air-conditioning. And in Granite school
district, only the year-round schools have it.
A number of the school districts say the cost of installing new air
conditioning is prohibitive and if the students and teachers can make
it through the hot weeks at the beginning and end of the school year,
the rest of the year is generally tolerable.
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