During a recent school board meeting in Del Rio, parents voiced significant concerns regarding the safety and comfort of students amid rising temperatures and inadequate facilities.
One parent, representing the frustrations of many, criticized the school district for a lack of accountability, particularly regarding air conditioning issues in schools. The parent highlighted that classrooms were exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit, well above the Texas Administrative Code's recommended temperature range for educational environments. Despite assurances from district officials that air conditioning systems had been inspected and passed in July, the parent questioned why these systems were not activated earlier to ensure functionality before the school year commenced.
Another parent, Maria Martinez, raised alarm over a recent incident involving a band student who collapsed from heat stroke during practice. She expressed concern over the response to the incident, noting that emergency medical services were not called by staff, and parents were only informed by other students. Martinez emphasized the need for better monitoring of students' health during outdoor practices, especially given the ongoing heat advisories. She urged the district to consider alternative arrangements for practices, such as moving them indoors or providing shaded areas to protect students from extreme heat.
The discussions underscored a growing demand for improved safety measures and accountability within the Del Rio school district, as parents called for immediate action to address these pressing issues.