Denver Public Schools Equips Schools with Necessary Air Conditioning Systems before Commencement of the Academic Year
Denver Schools to Get Air Conditioning Units Through 2028
Denver Public Schools (DPS) is set to install air conditioning units in its schools over the next few years, with the project scheduled to run through 2028. The initiative, funded by a bond passed by voters in 2024, aims to equip the 29 remaining DPS schools without air conditioning.
Chierstin Susel, a reporter for News Colorado, brings us this update. Two schools, Doull Elementary and Ellis Elementary in Denver's Virginia Village neighborhood, will return fully equipped with air conditioning this school year.
The schools' air conditioning units were installed during the summer break to minimise disruption. Other schools, such as two others having partial work done this summer, will finish up in 2026.
Denver's schools were originally built mostly before air conditioning existed, making many of them some of the oldest in the state. Over the years, voters have passed several bonds to fund the installation of air conditioning units in these older schools.
Heath Bock, the director of construction for Denver Public Schools, explained that the bulk of construction will happen over summer breaks. This allows for minimal disruption to the school day and ensures the work is completed efficiently.
In 2024, Denver voters approved a bond specifically to install air conditioning units in the schools that lacked them. The project will continue through 2028, with the majority of installation work scheduled during summer breaks.
Schools without air conditioning have seen an increase in heat days and early releases due to high temperatures. This new initiative is expected to provide a more comfortable learning environment for students and staff.
For those interested in sharing story ideas with Chierstin Susel, they can send an email to [email protected]. The equipping of Denver schools with air conditioning has been a phased, ongoing process primarily occurring in recent years, funded through voter-approved bonds, with the latest bond in 2024 targeting the last schools without AC. The work is underway and will continue into 2026 and beyond.
[1] Source: Denver Public Schools website
The equipping of Denver schools with air conditioning, funded by a bond passed by voters in 2024, extends beyond just comfort and self-development. It also includes education-and-self-development aspects, as the cooler learning environment is expected to facilitate better focus and performance for students. With the installation of air conditioning units in 29 schools planned through 2028, news outlets like News Colorado are sharing updates on the progress, such as the recent completion at Doull Elementary and Ellis Elementary.
