Extreme heat exposes HVAC challenges in North Carolina schools
(WWAY) — Schools across North Carolina are feeling the strain of aging heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems as extreme heat puts those systems to the test.
Hillside High School in Durham sent students home early after an HVAC problem was made worse by extreme heat. Several Wake County schools also reported hot classrooms during the heat.
In New Hanover County, HVAC failures were linked to mold found in band rooms at Hoggard and Laney high schools and Noble Middle School.
Brunswick County Schools Superintendent Dale Cole said extreme heat can expose weaknesses in school HVAC systems.
“Our schools were in great shape other than some lingering HVAC issues that, anytime it’s 98 degrees on a consistent basis, if there’s a weakness, it will be found in the HVAC system during August, so we still have a few things that we’re working on bit it’s mostly not in the classrooms; we’ve been able to at least find temporary fixes to those while we order parts,” said Cole.
New Hanover County Schools could also see additional funding for HVAC work if voters approve a proposed $320.5 million school bond this fall.
About $40 million of the proposed bond would go toward districtwide infrastructure improvements, including new HVAC systems.
