Back to school means no AC for 29 Denver schools; proposed bond measure could help

DENVER (KDVR) —  Everyone at Goldrick Elementary School in southwest Denver was doing what they could to stay cool on the first day of school.

Goldrick is one of 29 Denver Public Schools campuses that still do not have air conditioning. Fifth grader Jaycie Contreras said that on really hot days, it’s hard to learn.

“It’s hard to listen because it’s so hot and it gives me headaches,” Contreras said.

Principal Taryn Rawson said on sunny days when the outside temperature is in the mid-90s, the classroom temperature can reach the mid-90s as well.

“We can get above 100 in the stairwells. We have students with nose bleeds, so our health clinic gets really busy,” Rawson said.

The principal is hoping for a change. A $975 million bond measure is on the ballot in November that allocates $240 million to install AC in the nearly 30 Denver schools that don’t have it.

“Air conditioning in this school would make a huge difference,” Rawson said.

DPS says the measure would not increase taxes. The district would take on debt.

DPS provided a statement that reads in part, “…while this is a large investment, the underlying collateral is strong and we do not expect a decrease in our AA+ credit rating.”

To Rawson, this is an issue of equity. At Goldrick, 95% of families are people of color, and 90% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

“I really think that to live out our commitment to equity, we need to make sure that kids in southwest Denver and kids everywhere in the city have a comfortable place to come to on the first day of school,” Rawson said.

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