Portland Public Schools committee reviews draft temperature policy setting 65–82°F limits
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Summary
Portland Public Schools policy committee reviewed a draft temperature-standards policy required by new state law that sets a proposed maximum of 82°F and minimum of 65°F. Staff said the policy is high-level; procedures will specify steps (cooling locations, breaks, relocation, cancellations) and the committee asked for clarifications on renters, vehicles and district facilities.
Portland Board of Public Education Policy Committee Chair Maya Lina convened the Jan. 12, 2026, online meeting to review a draft district temperature-standards policy (ECC) required by recent state law. Assistant Superintendent Angela Atkinson Duino told the committee the draft sets a maximum indoor temperature of 82°F and a minimum of 65°F and that more detailed procedures will be developed to guide responses when those thresholds are reached.
The committee heard staff say the law directs districts to adopt written minimum and maximum temperature standards and that the draft policy was developed by Drummond Woodson using guidance from the Maine Department of Education. Atkinson Duino said the policy is intentionally high-level; operational steps such as requiring breaks, ensuring hydration, identifying cooling locations, relocating groups or canceling activities would be set out in accompanying procedures.
Members raised several practical questions. Board member Yusra Ali asked what "no designated air-conditioned areas" means; staff explained many district activity spaces lack full climate control even if office areas are climate-controlled. Committee members asked whether the policy would apply to renters, district facilities that are not school buildings (for example, transportation or central-office spaces), food-service prep areas, and district vehicles such as buses. Staff said the policy is a Portland Public Schools policy and that legal counsel may be needed to clarify obligations for renters and external users; they described past coordination practices with summer programs.
Staff described how the thresholds would be used: if a space reached the maximum temperature, staff would move students to an identified cooling area or cancel activities; if temperatures fell below the minimum, staff would seek other indoor spaces or request facilities to respond. Atkinson Duino said the 82°F figure is reflected in other states' guidance and that the district researched standards used by similar jurisdictions, while she was less certain about the provenance of the 65°F minimum.
The committee did not vote on ECC. Members asked staff to incorporate feedback — including explicit language about district facilities and vehicles, and clarification about renters — and return a revised draft. The committee recorded no public comment on the policy during the meeting.
The committee moved on to a separate policy item after staff agreed to collect questions and revise the policy for a future meeting.
