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Students and parents press Brea Olinda board to prioritize air conditioning in BOHS gym
Summary
After several public comments at the Sept. 11 board meeting, students, parents and boosters urged the district to make gym air conditioning a high priority during Measure H project prioritization, citing heat-related health and fairness concerns.
Dozens of parents, student athletes and booster representatives urged the Brea Olinda Unified School District to prioritize air conditioning and other athletic-facility upgrades at its high school gym during public comment at the Sept. 11 board meeting.
Monica Potter, a freshman and student athlete, described heat conditions that she said worsened a concussion recovery and asked trustees how the district could ensure safe training and competition conditions. "I had to go through CIF return-to-play protocol. Unfortunately, the trainer's office was unbearably hot," she said.
Parent Jamie Robertson thanked facilities staff for short-term mitigation (portable fans) but said parents want a long-term solution so teams don't have to travel, lose class time and for families to be able to attend events. "We want this prioritized. We see our children's health being affected," she said.
Booster Club president Elise Rodriguez told trustees the heat prevents some older or medically vulnerable fans from attending games and urged the board to allocate time and resources for the gym during the district's high-school priorities study session.
District staff acknowledged the concerns and said air-conditioning upgrades and gym priorities will be part of the forthcoming high-school study session (Oct. 27) that will show Measure H projects and the board's prioritization process. Rick Champion and facilities staff said they are reviewing sequencing and mitigation options while moving ahead with the Performing Arts Center retrofit and other Measure H work.
What's next: the board scheduled a study session Oct. 27 to set priorities for high-school projects; members of the public were invited to attend or view the session online.
