Wakefield plans 600-amp electrical upgrade and window-unit cooling at Greenwood School

Tim, facilities director for Wakefield Public Schools, told the committee the district upgraded Greenwood School to a 600-amp commercial electrical service as the first step toward classroom cooling.

"The first thing that we identified was that we needed to upgrade the electrical service for the building...the first step was to upgrade to a 600 amp commercial service, which we've done," Tim said, adding that the work required a new pole in the street and building-envelope modifications. He said the upgrade lets the district install dedicated wiring to support window air-conditioning units and future accessibility work without another capital cycle delay.

Tim told the committee the plan is to prioritize the 2nd-floor classrooms for wiring and installation this summer if quotes and scheduling permit. He discussed options — portable vented units, residential-style window units or split systems — and noted many newer models are quieter than older units. Committee members pressed on logistics, with one asking about noise and installation cycles; Tim said the district would use more permanent enclosures for safety and monitor decibel and accessibility issues as the project proceeds.

The district measured classroom temperatures in recent checks and reported 1st-floor rooms in the high 70s to low 80s and 2nd-floor rooms reaching the 80s; officials said they will use mitigation steps (fans, working shades, overnight cooling) and pursue larger HVAC options only as budget and capital timelines allow.