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Parents urge interim air‑conditioning fixes at Colonial ahead of 2027 HVAC conversion
Summary
Parents at the June 24 Pelham board meeting described overheated classrooms at Colonial School and urged the district to identify rooms with electrical capacity for temporary window units; the superintendent said the district is assessing capacity and welcomed parent support.
Parents of Colonial students pressed the board for interim cooling while the district prepares a full HVAC conversion planned for summer 2027. Ashley Mills, who identified herself as a parent of three, described repeated hot classrooms and asked the district to deploy temporary solutions in rooms that already have electrical capacity. "The teachers are dripping, the students are dripping," Mills said, urging the board to prioritize comfort and learning conditions.
Consetta Udacone, who said she is the incoming PTA president at Colonial, offered PTA support and suggested the district identify windows and rooms where units could be safely installed. "We would really greatly benefit from and be more than willing to support and help you with an interim solution coming up in September," Udacone said.
The superintendent responded that the district is assessing electrical capacity and window framing before accepting donated units or purchasing interim systems, noting that some classrooms already have top‑floor coverage while middle‑level rooms remain challenging. "You need enough electricity in the classroom…what has the capacity? What doesn't? How much would it take to bring those rooms up to capacity?" the superintendent said, describing the technical constraints the district is evaluating.
Board members and staff said they will follow up with a targeted assessment and be in touch with parents who offered help; a long‑term central air installation remains scheduled for summer 2027.
The public comment exchange was limited to parents speaking to the Colonial condition; no formal emergency action or funding appropriation was taken at the meeting.
