Certified Letter from BCPS: Heat is in the Mind of the Beholder

At the end of June, I received a certified letter from Pradeep Dixit, executive director of BCPS physical facilities department. The letter summarized the results of their assessment of Westowne’s building systems and answered some of the questions I had asked regarding air conditioning prioritization.

When we started our letter-writing campaign, we were told by BCPS that they use a metric called CAGE (cost, age, geography and enrollment) to determine which schools get air conditioning and when. Through our Southwest Area advisor and BCPS government liaison, I had asked what is Westowne’s CAGE score. Here is their response: 

Please be aware that Baltimore County Public Schools is committed to providing a climate controlled environment in every school in as timely a manner as possible. To that end, please know that there is no “scoring” system used to evaluate and prioritize schools regarding the installation of air conditioning.

This answer seems to negate the previous answer. If you do not use a scoring system, like CAGE, then what system do you use? Has the CAGE policy been abandoned? But the letter goes on to say the following:

The Department of Physical Facilities utilizes a disciplined and methodical approach which includes the continual evaluation and prioritization regarding the needs of our schools, and in particular the need to provide air conditioning. We are using a variety of funding options to address the identified needs including the state’s Aging School Program, Energy Performance Contracting, as well as funding from the county that is directed specifically to air conditioning.

 This paragraph above references the Aging Schools Fund, which is an alternative funding source for school construction projects. Westowne would qualify for these funds because of our FARM (free and reduced meals) percentage. In our lobbying efforts we have asked to apply for these funds in an effort to ease the financial burden on the county for our air conditioning upgrade. I can’t tell what their answer means. But there is more:

As a result of this process of evaluation and prioritization, Westowne Elementary was part of our submission for the FY-14 capital budget under planning for renovation. Additionally, Johnson Controls conducted an energy audit of Westowne Elementary and has recommended energy conservation projects that are scheduled to be completed over the next 12 to 15 months. These projects include lighting retrofit, energy management system enhancements, and improved pipe insulation.

This sounds great. Wonder what energy management system enhancements are? Does an energy audit also look at ventilation and climate control? Without air conditioning, we don’t use very much energy so I don’t see how we could conserve any more.

The following is a summary of their assessment of our building’s temperatures. Remember the thermostats they installed in the classrooms? The workers who entered the classrooms with temperature probes? This is what they found:

Due to concerns about the potential for elevated temperatures in Westowne Elementary, a study was conducted during the final five weeks of this past school year to assess thermal conditions in the building. The study was conducted by placing temperature/relative humidity data logging monitors in selected classrooms during the study period. The data collected was evaluated in relation to outside conditions. In summary, the highest measured temperature in the school was 85 degrees (on May 30 and May 31) and the temperature in the school was normally below the outside air temperature during the school day (Table 1). The exception to this was when the unit ventilator in classroom 25 had been turned off by the teacher. This was noted by staff on several site visits.

 

Relative humidity was also monitored during the study. The highest relative humidity levels in the building occurred when temperatures were between 68 degrees F and 78 degrees F. The relative humidity reached a peak of 82% on June 10 in room 25; this resulted in a heat index of 81 degrees F (Table 2).

The temperature and relative humidity data was used to calculate heat index during peak temperature periods. The peak heat index inside of the building were consistently lower than the outside heat indexes. The highest calculated outside heat index was 88 degrees F (on May 30). The highest calculated inside heat index was 87 degrees F (on May 30) in room 21 (Table 3).

 

So without directly saying it, they do have some fairly disturbing findings: 88% humidity and 85 degree F temperatures. Humidity levels in the 80s create serious air quality issues, such as mold growth. I find their temperature readings to be on the low side and the statement that our school building never exceeded outside temperatures is simply false. I was there on a day that was beautiful outside and stifling inside. And then there are the days that it rains and you can’t open the windows and all those heat-generating bodies just stew all day long. I also have anecdotal evidence that the temperatures the workers measured did not correlate with the temperatures that the teachers measured at the same time in the same location. It is understandable that there might be some variations in temperature readings but we are confident in the accuracy of our temperature data. If they want to fight about it, we are prepared to do so. But I digress; the letter continues:     

In evaluating the data and the school, there are several features of the building which assist in keeping the building temperature in check. These include the low-E glass in the windows which were installed in 2003 – low-e glass reflects most of the infrared solar energy which is responsible for the radiant heating effect from direct sunlight; the use of existing blinds to further reduce the radiant heat load; and the use of the unit ventilator in each classroom, which provides outside air ventilation to improve indoor air quality, dissipates humidity generated in the room, and provides continuous air movement in the classroom.

The letter goes on to say they will continue to monitor the situation…. The paragraph above is my favorite: it basically says that you can adequately cool a building filled with 600 plus heat-generating bodies without air conditioning. And the itty bitty fan units in the ventilators have magical powers that whisk away humidity without compressor coil technology. Why bother with air conditioning at all if all you need is a 60-year-old fan? I thought when they started this assessment that they would help us fix our building not concoct a fantasy. I’ll post their table data next to our data in my next post.   

 

 

Letters to the Editors

Hi Folks, There is a recent Catonsville Times/Baltimore Sun article about the overcrowding issue in Catonsville. We got some good coverage but we need to do some more squeaking with letters to the editors.

Here is a draft of what to write:

I’m am writing in regards to your article “Questions but few answers regarding elementary school in Catonsville.” I am a parent at Westowne Elementary in Catonsville and am concerned that our school is not being included in BCPS’s plans to address overcrowding and other problems associated with aging schools. Representatives from our school attended the May 8^th community input meeting but Westowne was not included in BCPS’s overcrowding presentation or acknowledged as being over state capacity levels. Our school is 114% over capacity, more than Catonsville Elementary and 4% less than Westchester Elementary. Both of these schools were included in the presentation. Like Catonsville Elementary, our school does not have air conditioning and does not have adequate infrastructure to handle 20th-century climate control. Unlike Catonsville Elementary, we have not been scheduled for air conditioning and we have been given no timeframe or explanation about when it is our turn. Meanwhile, our children spend up to six hours a day in classrooms that can reach 80 degrees or higher on hot days. The school has such poor ventilation that average temperatures inside the classrooms are 10 degrees hotter than outside. We are an aging school but we aren’t being included in BCPS’s plans to address aging schools in Catonsville. When will this change?

Here is where you send it: 

Keith Meisel, Editor, Catonsville Times: kmeisel@tribune.com

Readers Respond, Baltimore Sun: talkback@baltimoresun.com

Here is the article: 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/catonsville/ph-ca-school-board-0515-20130514,0,854701.story

Community Meeting: Overcrowding

We had approximately 5 people from Westowne show up at this meeting. If we want to sit at the big kid table, we’ve got to come to these events.

Here’s the recap: Westowne wasn’t a part of the overcrowding discussion. The reason given is that we aren’t over capacity enough. According to BCPS numbers, we are 114% over, while Catonsville Elementary (which was included) is 108% and Westchester (also included) is 118%. Their projected numbers are debatable so we could easily hit the “crisis” point without being factored into the solution pot. And like Catonsville Elementary, we also have an old building that is not suitable for learning. So why were we left out? BCPS needs to be asked this question by everyone who attends Westowne.

Here’s a WBAL article about the meeting.

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/maryland/education/catonsville-parents-address-school-overcrowding-concerns/-/9379316/20067020/-/xewc8d/-/index.html 

 

 

 

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/maryland/education/catonsville-parents-address-school-overcrowding-concerns/-/9379316/20067020/-/xewc8d/-/index.html

Squeaky Wheel Update

We are now in week four of our letter- and email-writing campaign. Third graders it is your turn to speak your minds. Tell them your desire to learn and demand that they put kids first with safe and healthy learning environments. 

Progress report: We’ve met with Beverly Coleman, BCPS southwest area advisory council member. She is an excellent contact for us to have and she summarized our meeting at the board meeting last night (May 7). There was very little new information received from BCPS but we Beverly to ask the following questions: 

1) What is our CAGE score? CAGE (cost, age, geography, enrollment) is the metric that the BCPS facilities department uses to determine how to allocate improvement funds. We don’t know where we sit in the priority pile, or if we have a priority spot at all. 

2) Who handles applications for the Aging School Funds, a state-run program that supplies alternative funding for school construction projects? Catonsville Elementary is receiving some of its air conditioning upgrade funds from the state’s Aging School program. According to the website, schools within a federal empowerment zone, with 35% or more of the student body receiving free or reduced lunch, are eligible to apply. Westowne qualifies under that criterion. We wanted to know how we could apply for funds under this program.

3) What assessment and improvement proposals and plans exist for our school? In the fall of 2013, architects visited Westowne and submitted project proposals. This is all we know. We don’t know any outcomes, findings, proposals, costs, etc. We would like to know.

4) How can we submit interim solutions that would improve the air ventilation system at our school? Allegedly our school lacks the electrical supply necessary to support window units or central air conditioning. So if we ever qualify for an upgrade, the possibility of air conditioning is a long way away. But what about fall 2013? We still can not properly vent our school. Surely there is a simple and affordable way to remove the humidity that makes our school an unsafe environment. Just because it might be expensive or cumbersome doesn’t mean that the school system gets to do nothing. These are children, not field hands. 

We’re still waiting on the answers to these questions. 

Board Meeting: Group Therapy

Thanks to everyone who came to the board meeting to stand up for Westowne. We did an excellent job expressing our concern and commitment to our children and their safety. Our speakers were fabulous – well prepared, endearing and succinct. We might not have won air conditioning but we showed the board that we are unified and determined. 

For those of you who couldn’t make it, here is a link to a web stream of the meeting. 

Make Westowne Cool by Fall 2013

Last week’s false summer is a reminder of how hot temperatures can get in our school because it doesn’t have air conditioning, ceiling fans or windows that open wide enough for adequate ventilation. Are you concerned and confused as to why Westowne doesn’t have air conditioning?

The county school system knows that our school reaches unhealthy temperatures in hot weather. The PTA, the school administration and individual parents have campaigned for years for adequate climate control. In response, the county school system has told us that we aren’t on the list for a facilities upgrade. During a recent county review, Catonsville Elementary was selected to receive air conditioning. This decision means that we are now the only school in Catonsville that is not air conditioned.

During a visit to Westowne in the fall, State Comptroller Peter Franchot gave examples of how other schools in the county had successfully lobbied for air conditioning. He urged Westowne parents to contact their elected officials and demand immediate action. Following Mr. Franchot’s advice, Westowne PTA is organizing Operation Squeaky Wheel. We will be loud, persistent and persuasive.  We will accept no excuses.  We will demand that Westowne be cool by fall 2013.