UFT: Protests Led to School's Air-Conditioning

By HOWARD MEGDAL

The United Federation of Teachers is claiming victory after the Department of Education installed air-conditioners at a Brooklyn summer school site following union complaints and a WCBS-TV news report.

Staff members at the Brooklyn High School for the Arts had pointed out that several unused air conditioners sat in the basement of the school while temperatures inside reached 94 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the UFT.

'Whatever It Takes'

"It's regrettable that it takes this kind of pressure to get the DOE to provide staff and students with a comfortable and safe working environment," UFT Vice President Frank Volpicella said. "But the union is prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure our Teachers can teach and students can learn."

The department maintained that the installation of the air-conditioning, which was installed at schools Aug. 3, was in the works, and had been held up due to contractor delays.

"The vendor who is responsible for installing the units in all our schools said there was a shortage of aluminum needed for installation," DOE spokeswoman Margie Feinberg said in an Aug. 8 e-mail. "They received the aluminum part last week and they were able to install the units then."