Albuquerque teachers ask lawmakers for cooler classrooms

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque Teachers Federation is telling state lawmakers that it’s too hot to learn. Tuesday night, the Albuquerque teachers union voted on a motion calling for statewide investments in solar powered HVAC upgrades.

The president of the ATF said the push comes as many New Mexico schools have swamp coolers that are no longer up to the job. She said conditions are making it difficult for teachers to teach and students to learn. “And swamp coolers, when I started teaching, they were adequate. They are fairly adequate because they cooled 15 degrees, so even with a bunch of hot bodies in there from the students, I could still cool it down enough. It’s not adequate enough anymore because there are so many more 90 degree days,” said President Ellen Bernstein, Albuquerque Teachers Federation.

KRQE News 13 will provide the results of that vote when it is finalized.

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