Ten Baltimore County schools are closed for a third day because they don't have air conditioning and in Baltimore City dozens of schools will dismiss students three-hours early because of the heat.
The air conditioning issues are frustrating state leaders and at yesterday's Board of Public Works meeting Governor Larry Hogan said it's unacceptable that school systems have not addressed the matter.
State Comptroller Peter Franchot has unsuccessfully tried to get local leaders to install window units as a stopgap measure. He says students are missing valuable instructional time because their schools don't have AC and the school community and taxpayers deserve more than empty promises and inaction from local officials. Governor Hogan took issue with the Baltimore City School system. "Baltimore City has reverted back to the state, $66 million in state school construction funds, because they could not or would not use it to fix these HVAC issues," said Hogan. "
State Comptroller Peter Franchot has been unsuccessful in his call for local leaders to install window AC units. "Time after time, the begging by me for Baltimore City and Baltimore County to do the right thing abd put split units into these classrooms has been ignored," said Franchot. Air conditioning woes have not only plagued Baltimore City and Baltimore County School Districts. Prince George's County school district saw early dismissals Wednesday because of the heat and Arundel High School will dismiss early on Thursday.