LEVITTOWN, NY — There was no welcomed relief from the late summer stretch of heat at a pair of Levittown schools.
Gardiners Avenue Elementary and Summit Lane Elementary School opened the school year without working air-conditioning. Portable Hydraulic Scissor Lift
One parent was "shocked" that his son's kindergarten had no air-conditioning and he told Patch the child was "severely dehydrated" at Gardiners on Tuesday.
"This is dangerous for our children and seems scandalous that our kids' health is put in danger," the parent, who will not send his child to school until the heat wave breaks, said. "[We] now have serious doubts about the competence of our son's elementary school's administrators."
Todd Winch, Levittown Superintendent of Schools, said the district embarked on a major project during the 2022-2023 school year to upgrade air-conditioning at all schools.
For Gardiners and Summit Lane, Winch said, electrical work is needed for the air-conditioning, which requires state approval.
"Once we receive the necessary permits, we will begin work immediately on the project at these two schools so that air conditioners can be installed," Winch said.
Until that happens, Winch said, "We were able to add air-conditioning to the cafeteria and library of each school."
Additionally, teachers can bring students to three or four cooling zones during the day, "an increase from last year," Winch said. "Teachers can also utilize fans in their classrooms and bottled water is available in the hallways for student use."
After temperatures hover around 90 degrees, it is expected to cool down to the 70s much of next week.
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