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Teachers report classrooms hit 100°F and 40°F; district posts HVAC RFP and implements temporary fixes
Summary
Teachers told the board that some classrooms at East Chicago Central High School reached about 100 degrees this fall and others dropped to 40 degrees; superintendent said an RFP for HVAC upgrades is posted, chillers/cooling tower activation is deferred to spring and the district is working with Stone Group on interim relief.
Aaron Dunsell, a teacher at East Chicago Central High School, told the School City of East Chicago board during public forum that classrooms have reached "100 degrees" this fall and in other periods fallen to roughly 40 degrees, and he urged the district for clearer communication and faster action.
"This fall alone, rooms reached 100 degrees. And many stayed consistently around 90 degrees. At other times other classrooms, including my own, have plunged as low as 40 degrees," Dunsell said, describing what he called unsafe and learning‑disrupting temperature swings.
In response, Dr. Bornay, superintendent, told the board the district has posted a request for proposals intended to address HVAC upgrades across the district with emphasis on East Chicago Central. He said the district has been working with a new partner, Stone Group, and with the district chief engineer on interim relief measures and classroom walkthroughs.
"We currently do have an RFP posted which will address this very issue… it primarily focuses on Central," Dr. Bornay said. He confirmed district staff and the chief engineer walked classrooms with teachers who raised concerns.
Earlier in the meeting Paul McGrath, the HVAC contractor, told the board that the three school projects begun over the summer are near completion but that some large components — specifically chillers and one cooling tower — have been installed but will not be turned on until spring because of seasonal constraints.
"...the chillers won't be turned on, and the one cooling tower won't be turned on until the spring," McGrath said, adding that other installed equipment is in place and functioning and that some activation is weather‑dependent.
Community members asked the board to improve communications about repairs. Trustee Vanessa Hernandez Orange requested the superintendent send an email to staff with updates so teachers who do not watch meetings will receive information directly; Dr. Bornay agreed to increase communications.
No formal vote accompanied the HVAC update. The district posted an RFP and described interim measures; the superintendent did not provide a specific timeline for full repairs beyond the note that some equipment will not be activated until spring.
