Air Conditioning

SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT — As summer heat closes in on Southern California, the staff of William McKinley Elementary School is hoping for a cool reprieve, courtesy of a new air conditioning system in their auditorium. But the odds — and the finances — are against it. Despite modernization efforts at McKinley extending to their auditorium in the form of some major refurbishments, air conditioning is not one of them. "Air conditioning is a dream," Principal Sue Holliday said.

CITY HALL — Parents of Providencia Elementary School students were up in arms at Thursday night’s school board meeting over a lack of air conditioning in classrooms. “Classroom temperatures have reached over 105 degrees in my daughter’s classroom,” parent Rachel Salinas said at the meeting. Last week’s triple-digit heat collided with the first week of school in Burbank, creating a stiflingly hot environment for students at the school, said parents, who along with Salinas held a news conference last week to air their frustrations.

HILLSIDE DISTRICT — Burbank Unified School District board members are grappling with how to fund a pricey electrical and infrastructure updates to Horace Mann Child Care Center next year. The center, which serves a majority of the district's special education preschoolers, has not received any major updates in the last few decades, said Craig Jellison, senior director of facilities for the district. Of the more than $1.5-million worth of renovations and repairs needed at the school, the electrical system and air conditioning are standout problems, Jellison said.

The heat is on in the Burbank Unified School District — and parents have every right to turn it up. It is unacceptable that school children should be subject to conditions that make learning terribly uncomfortable, if not impossible. But that seems to be the case at Providencia Elementary School, where parents were left asking school board members last week why their children were forced to study in classrooms in which they say temperatures reached more than 105 degrees.

The Edison Elementary School Chargers are even prouder of their school since its recently completely modernization. The school, built in 1939 at 2110 Chestnut St., had not had any major repairs since people could remember. In 1997, Burbank voters passed a bond issue to repair and renovate their schools. Approximately $3.1 million of the bond money has been used at Edison. At Edison, the improvements included electrical, water and sewer, gutter and downspout upgrades.

Molly Shore As many as 19 classified workers, including six custodians and two supervisors, could find themselves out of work if Burbank Unified School District board members approve a resolution facing them Thursday. The layoffs, Supt. Gregory Bowman said, must be made as part of more than $500,000 in budget cuts to the district's Facilities Maintenance and Operations department to help balance the 2003-04 budget. " ... [W]e need to move forward with notification of layoffs because we have to give 30-day notices," Bowman said.

Rodriguez -- Velasquez Carmen Rodriguez of Glendale and Julio C. Velasquez of Eagle Rock were married in Los Angeles. The maid of honor was Martina Rodriguez. Serving as bridesmaids were Elena Rodriguez, Leticia Velasquez, Marisol Velasquez, Clarita Cruz, Jenny Lozano, Irma Velasquez and Adora Velasquez. The best man was Juan Velasquez. Serving as groomsmen were Antonio N. Alvares, Carlos Menendez, Jose Rodriguez, Hector Herrera, Henny Velasquez, Raymundo Reynoso and Roberto Acuna.

School officials have launched a new discussion over drafting a comprehensive plan to improve and maintain the district's facilities in the wake of the $110-million Measure S bond being passed. Early this summer, the district plans to issue about $40 million in bond money to begin work on some of the most pressing needs, said Christine Statton, assistant superintendent of administrative services, during the school board meeting on Thursday. Working with Craig Bell, the district's director of facilities, Statton recently culled old architect's records to identify the age of school buildings and the year playgrounds, phones and air conditioning units were installed.

Irma Lemus MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- Fed up with stifling temperatures inside his Burbank High School classroom, Len Haynes decided to create a little heat of his own for district administrators. Haynes, a biology teacher and a 35-year Burbank High veteran, hung two dummies and several provocative signs outside his classroom this week. Some of the signs chastised district officials for allowing students and teachers to suffer in non-air-conditioned rooms and others encouraged students and parents to protest the conditions.

As a member of the Bond Oversight Committee, it is my pleasure to spotlight the modernization that was done at Bret Harte Elementary School. I chose to write about Harte, a school that is near and dear to my heart (no pun intended), because both my sons attended this school and I served as PTA president there for two years. For those of you unfamiliar with Harte, the school boasts an attendance of more than 700. Even prior to modernization, it was a school that always had a lot going on, with academic and extracurricular activities abounding.

School officials have launched a new discussion over drafting a comprehensive plan to improve and maintain the district's facilities in the wake of the $110-million Measure S bond being passed. Early this summer, the district plans to issue about $40 million in bond money to begin work on some of the most pressing needs, said Christine Statton, assistant superintendent of administrative services, during the school board meeting on Thursday. Working with Craig Bell, the district's director of facilities, Statton recently culled old architect's records to identify the age of school buildings and the year playgrounds, phones and air conditioning units were installed.

BURBANK — Modernization projects at Luther Burbank Middle School and William McKinley Elementary School are nearing completion, and district officials are planning to start work on two more campuses by the summer. Luther’s improvements include new interior walls, flooring, painting and air conditioning at its administrative offices and classrooms, according to district documents. Work at McKinley includes new paint, roof repair and playground resurfacing. Air conditioning, lighting, flooring, electrical work and underground infrastructure — like water, gas and sewer pipes — are also among the upgrades expected to be completed at McKinley and Luther by April, he said.

The heat is on in the Burbank Unified School District — and parents have every right to turn it up. It is unacceptable that school children should be subject to conditions that make learning terribly uncomfortable, if not impossible. But that seems to be the case at Providencia Elementary School, where parents were left asking school board members last week why their children were forced to study in classrooms in which they say temperatures reached more than 105 degrees.

CITY HALL — Parents of Providencia Elementary School students were up in arms at Thursday night’s school board meeting over a lack of air conditioning in classrooms. “Classroom temperatures have reached over 105 degrees in my daughter’s classroom,” parent Rachel Salinas said at the meeting. Last week’s triple-digit heat collided with the first week of school in Burbank, creating a stiflingly hot environment for students at the school, said parents, who along with Salinas held a news conference last week to air their frustrations.

I just read your article “School still needs work” (Aug. 22) and I have to say that the two principal sources, Craig Jellison, senior director of facilities for the Burbank Unified School District, and board Vice President Larry Applebaum are the same two who said they would upgrade electricity so they can install air conditioning at Providencia Elementary School. Below is from an e-mail I sent to the Community Assistance Coordinator Bob Kramer, that gives more detail to our plight: “Bob, “I spoke to you today regarding the issue of no air conditioning and other poor conditions in the above school.

HILLSIDE DISTRICT — Burbank Unified School District board members are grappling with how to fund a pricey electrical and infrastructure updates to Horace Mann Child Care Center next year. The center, which serves a majority of the district's special education preschoolers, has not received any major updates in the last few decades, said Craig Jellison, senior director of facilities for the district. Of the more than $1.5-million worth of renovations and repairs needed at the school, the electrical system and air conditioning are standout problems, Jellison said.

SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT — As summer heat closes in on Southern California, the staff of William McKinley Elementary School is hoping for a cool reprieve, courtesy of a new air conditioning system in their auditorium. But the odds — and the finances — are against it. Despite modernization efforts at McKinley extending to their auditorium in the form of some major refurbishments, air conditioning is not one of them. "Air conditioning is a dream," Principal Sue Holliday said.

BURBANK — The school board awarded a $7.5-million construction contract on Thursday to modernize the nearly 80-year-old William McKinley Elementary School, leaving two campuses left in the district yet to begin the modernization process. The board voted unanimously to award the contract to G. Voskanian Construction Inc., a company the district has used before to work on school modernization. McKinley Elementary students and faculty are ready for the work, Principal Sue Holliday said.

St. Robert Bellarmine Elementary School Principal June Rosena wiped away tears of joy Tuesday as first- and second-grade students sang "How Much Do I Love You?" during a presentation in honor of her 20 years of service to the school. The students shook homemade paper tambourines as they sang to an audience of upperclassmen who sat on the playground, listening. "We love her and we think she is a wonderful principal," said 6-year-old Allesandro Gallo. "She takes care of us even if we don't feel good."

How many parents in Burbank are aware of the altered school calendar that the Burbank Unified School District adopted on Jan. 19 for the 2006-07 year with school starting in August? Were letters sent home to parents notifying them of the changes, which will begin in less than six months? I found out by reading my child's elementary school newsletter in late February. And then I saw the Feb. 28 story in the Burbank Leader ("School year to start earlier," March 1). If I hadn't read either of those publications, boy would I and many other parents been in for a surprise come summer time.