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Parents press board on cold classrooms, board says temporary heater installed
Summary
A parent told the West Milford board that some classrooms have been unusually cold—below 60°F—raising safety and communication concerns; Superintendent Dr. Kitchin said the district deployed a supplemental heater and cited a 63°F state guidance threshold for relocating classes while permanent repairs are placed on the long-range facility plan.
A West Milford parent and CPAC chair urged clearer, earlier communication about persistent cold classrooms and asked the board to confirm that temporary measures meet safety standards.
Caitlin Babcock told the board that families and special-education parents reported classrooms "falling below 60 degrees" and that prior messages to families were vague. "When communication is vague or incomplete, it creates confusion, frustration, and a sense that there's something being withheld," she said, and raised equity concerns for students in the climb program who may not be able to report discomfort.
Dr. Kitchin responded that the district sent a detailed letter to the affected PK community that afternoon and that staff had secured "a supplemental heater through United Rental" to provide immediate relief. He also characterized 63°F as the state guidance threshold for relocating classes: "63 degrees is kind of the cutoff where the state says, 'Hey, below 63 degrees, you should be looking to relocate classes.'"
The superintendent said the supplemental heater is a temporary, safe solution while the district pursues a longer-term fix through its long-range facility plan; he acknowledged prior attempts by local contractors and a U.S. distributor to repair the existing unit had not resolved the problem.
Board members acknowledged the concern; public comments and the superintendent's update will be followed by further administrative discussions and facility planning. The board did not vote on any immediate policy change during the public session.
