Newport-Mesa moves ahead with plan to install air conditioning at 6 schools this summer

Plans to install air conditioning at six Newport-Mesa Unified School District campuses are moving forward.

The board of trustees voted 6-0 on Tuesday, with member Judy Franco absent, to solicit construction bids for air conditioning projects at Davis Magnet School and College Park, Pomona, Kaiser, Wilson and Woodland elementary schools. The work is expected to be done this summer.

In November, the board approved a $974,200 contract with Anaheim-based Optimum Energy Design to provide mechanical, engineering, structural and architectural services for new heating, ventilation and cooling units at Harbor View, Mariners, Newport, Newport Heights and Whittier elementary schools and Ensign Intermediate and Back Bay High schools. Work at those schools is expected to be done in summer 2019.

Projects at four schools were delayed last year after the district decided to move away from roof-mounted systems in favor of ground units, which officials say are safer to install and maintain. As a result, the district is ramping up the number of installations to be completed over the next two summers, according to district officials.

Fifteen of Newport-Mesa’s 32 schools currently have full air conditioning, and the district plans to install it at the rest of the schools over the next several years. Costa Mesa and Newport Harbor high schools have partial air conditioning but are expected to have it throughout by 2020 and 2021, respectively.

The majority of Newport-Mesa’s schools are not completely air conditioned because they were built before cooling systems were widely used. However, district officials have said many campuses have air-conditioned spaces, which can provide some relief during sweltering heat. Parents and teachers also have pushed trustees to consider implementing minimum-day school schedules on hot days.

Retired Newport-Mesa teacher Laurie Smith questioned during a study session Tuesday why air conditioning hasn’t been installed faster at the campuses, describing the situation in classrooms during warm weather as a “health safety risk.”

“The decision making needs to move along,” she said. “I hope you don’t allow any more delays.”

The district began discussing restructuring its budget to begin phasing in air conditioning in 2013, but a lack of funding options posed a challenge for officials. Since bond money is not available for the projects, the district dipped into general fund revenue to cover the costs.

“Why is it taking this long? It’s because we’re using our own money,” Supt. Fred Navarro said.

Trustees are expected to vote on bids for the projects in the next few months.

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