Carney Elementary Parents Speak Up About Lack of A/C

Carney Elementary School parents are planning to speak about a lack of air conditioning at their children's school at a Tuesday evening board of education meeting.

The Carney Elementary School PTA sees the installation of air conditioning throughout the entire school as a "long overdue" issue, according to a news release from the group.

The school, which is partially air-conditioned, was ranked 36th out of 48 Baltimore County Public Schools in terms of priority for the installation of air conditioning, according to a report release by the school system back in September.

Only the school's main office, library, and health suite along with two Kindergarten classes and all 3rd and 4th grade classrooms are currently air conditioned, according to the PTA news release.

"This is unacceptable and unfair. Our students, teachers and staff are being forced to endure extremely severe temperatures during the hot school days," wrote Sherry McCammon, chair of the Carney PTA advocacy committee, in a press release. "They shouldn’t have to suffer because of the County’s lack of adequate financial planning for much-needed school maintenance.  This is only one of the school maintenance issues that we are addressing at this time."

Back in January, Gov. Martin O'Malley announced at Overlea High School $25 million in school construction funds would be earmarked for air conditioning. At the time Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown said that 65 of the state's 180 schools without air conditioning were located in Baltimore County.

"Carney Elementary PTA believes that a large portion of this money should be allocated to Northeast Baltimore County," the release states, going on to say they are urging the board to "swiftly secure the appropriate funds to install air conditioning throughout [Carney Elementary]."

"As a volunteer who spends many hours in the school, it’s not only hard for me to experience the extremely hot temperatures first-hand while volunteering in the school, but it’s disheartening to see the students, teachers, and staff being so uncomfortable and miserable," said Judy Heiger, Carney PTA President.

The Baltimore County Board of Education meets at approximately 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in room 114 of the ESS building of the Greenwood Campus, at 6901 Charles Street in Towson.