Elementary School Classrooms Without Heat For Months

Jacqueline Sit, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City students enjoyed warmer weather as they headed back to class, but some kindergartners were forced to bundle up even inside because their classroom hasn't had heat for months.

Parent Lupe Iglesias said at one point the classroom was 58 degrees because the heater wasn't working and she wants it fixed. She's had to bundle up her daughter in extra layers so she can brave the cold inside Wheeler Elementary School.

"Well I'm very concerned because my daughter, she says sometimes it's too cold. And she says she has to wear two coats, one light jacket and another jacket, heavy jacket because it's very cold in the classroom," said Iglesias.

Other parents said the students have been going without heat since October.

"I think since winter started, it's been probably two months or a month and a half," said Iglesias. "I don't know. What can we do to fix this problem?"

"We have replaced several heat exchangers at that building and some of them and as one gets fix, another one may go down because of the age of the units and the conditions that they're in," said Bob Cervi, the OKCPS Director of Maintenance.

Five units are down now. Cervi said they're getting to them as fast as they can, and plan to have them all fixed by next week.

Crews will also be working throughout the weekend to watch for busted water lines as the weather warms up.