Employee tells Clayton County Board some Ash Street Center classrooms lack heat; superintendent asked to investigate

An employee at the Ash Street Center told the Clayton County Board of Education on Monday that several classrooms in the facility lacked heat, including a classroom used by autistic students, and asked the board to address the problem.

"We have several classrooms that do not have heat," said Harry Menner, who identified himself as an Ash Street Center employee, asking the board to be aware and to resolve the issue. Menner said the cold had caused children to become sick and described the problem as ongoing in some rooms.

The board chair thanked Menner for bringing the matter to the board's attention and asked Doctor Smith to investigate immediately. "Doctor Smith, can you look at that, look into that first thing in the morning?" the chair said. A member identified in the record as Doctor Smith responded, "Yes, sir."

The exchange occurred during the public-comment portion of the meeting. No formal motion or vote was recorded on the floor about facilities repairs during the session; the chair and superintendent committed to follow up. The meeting then moved on to other business.

Why it matters: heating failures in school classrooms can affect student health and learning, and the board's prompt follow-up could determine whether temporary measures or repair work is required before students return. The board's public response indicates the district intends to investigate, but the record does not show a specific timeline for repairs or which department will be assigned to remediate the problem.

The board received the comment and acknowledged it; the superintendent and staff are expected to report back to the board with findings and any recommended next steps.