Establishes 88 degrees as maximum

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Dec. 14 signed legislation that requires school districts to lower the temperature if a classroom or support space reaches 82 degrees. The areas must be evacuated if they hit 88 degrees.

The law requires that districts reduce temperatures below 82 degrees by turning off overhead lights, pulling down shades or blinds, turning on fans, opening doors and windows, turning off electronics and/or providing water breaks.

Related: Too Hot to Learn, or Teach?

The legislation passed the Assembly, 192-12, with support from Dana Levenberg, whose district includes Philipstown, and Jonathan Jacobson, whose district includes Beacon, and the Senate, 57-3, with a yes vote from Rob Rolison, whose district includes the Highlands.

The state requires a minimum classroom temperature of 65 degrees. The new law will be in effect for the 2025-26 school year.

Earlier this year, Beacon voters approved a capital plan that will add cooling centers at Rombout Middle School and the district’s four elementary schools. Haldane included $10 million to install air conditioning at its two school buildings in a capital plan but dropped the provision before a November vote. The Garrison School added AC in 2022.

Related stories:

Wag of the Week: Destiny

Continental Commons Faces New Lawsuit

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Articles attributed to "staff" are written by the editor or a senior editor. This is typically because they are brief items based on a single source, such as a press release, or there are multiple contributors, such as a collection of photos.

6 replies on “New Law Limits Classroom Heat”

  1. If a school cannot provide air conditioning for its students, the administration offices shouldn’t have it either. [via Facebook]

  2. The law should read “a regulated heating system that ensures equal temperature throughout all classrooms at max 75 degrees.” [via Facebook]

  3. I work in the Hyde Park district. The classrooms are all 85 degrees. It’s awful. For me, 68 degrees is fine. [via Facebook]

  5. Will the state pay for HVAC systems for every school district so they can comply with these regulations? [via Facebook]

  6. Unfortunately, I know teachers who are confined to rooms with no windows, no air conditioning and no air circulation, and where the temperature regularly exceeds these limits in the warmer months.

    Some of these spaces also have crumbling walls and mold. They’re beautiful old buildings, but the state needs to invest in updates. [via Facebook]

Comments are closed.