Ridgely Middle School is a beautiful school in Baltimore County.  It has never been climate controlled.  It has always been hot on hot days.  Ridgely has recently undergone a $13,000,000 renovation.  Since the renovation, it is having unprecedented heat issues. The PTA Climate Control Committee of Ridgely was formed in order to research the high temperatures at Ridgely since the renovation, research how high temperatures in the classroom learning environment affect student health and performance, and research possible solutions to the problem both at Ridgely and throughout Baltimore County Public Schools.
 
Here are some general facts:
 
·    50% of Baltimore County Public Schools are not climate controlled.  
·    Nearly 100% of Anne Arundel, Howard, and Carroll county public schools and 90% of Harford county public schools are fully climate controlled.   
·    Baltimore had 27 school days from August-October 2007 in which the outside temperatures were 80-100 degrees.
·    Numerous studies show that students have trouble completing tasks involving high concentration when their classroom environment is over 80 degrees.

Here are a few facts about Ridgely since our recent renovation:

·    Our renovation seems to have fully prepared our school to be a climate controlled -- lowered ceilings throughout, new HVAC units in every classroom, new windows throughout that aren't conducive to ventilation -- all that is missing are the chillers needed to make the air conditioning system functional.
·    Teachers who have been teaching at Ridgely for years have reported that classroom heat issues this year have been worse than any other year in the past 18 years,
·    The most affected classrooms are typically a full 10 degrees hotter than outside temps, meaning that when the outside temperature is 80 degrees, these classrooms are often  90 degrees, when the outside temp is 85, these classrooms are often  95, when the outside temp is 90, these classrooms may be 100, etc.  These classrooms experienced 27 school days (5.5 weeks of school) of 90-100 degree temperatures just in the fall of 2007.
·    The new inward-opening window design installed throughout the school greatly inhibits the flow of outside air into the classroom.  Half of the new windows do not even open.  The half that do open only open 6”!  The old windows opened a full 90 degrees outward and provided much better airflow.
·    The lowering of ceilings in Ridgely classrooms seems to have given the heat nowhere to go.
·    On hot days in the fall, the nurse’s office was busy with both students and teachers complaining of headaches, nausea, dizziness, etc.   Students with asthma suffered increased breathing problems.
·    The most affected classrooms seem to be the music wing and the 2nd floor classrooms, where the heat backs up.
The PTA Climate Control Committee has been looking into short term and long term solutions.  We believe that the only long term solution to this problem is the installation of the chillers that will complete Ridgely's climate control system.  The chillers are estimated to cost approximately $900,000, less than 7% of the total cost of the renovation.  In the short term, we would like to recommend installing chillers in the 2nd floor classrooms and music wing which seem to be most affected by the heat backup and lack of adequate ventilation, until such time as BCPS is able to solve the problem for the entire school.  

Central Area Pre-Budget Meeting

The Committee spoke at the Central Area Educational Advisory Council's Pre-Budget Meeting on March 13, 2008, Dumbarton Middle School, to ask for the CAEAC’s help in working with the Board of Education on getting BCPS climate controlled and solving the heat problem at Ridgely.  

Senator Jim Brochin Visits Ridgely!

On June 5, 2008, Senator Jim Brochin visited Ridgely Middle School to examine the new windows at Ridgely.  He met with Mr. Michael Sines and several employees from the BCPS Office of Physical Facilities.  Also in attendance were BCPS Governmental Liaison Mr. Ed Novak, Central Area Superintendant Mr. Lyle Patzkowsky, school principal Mrs. Susan Evans, 2007/2008 PTA President Julie Sugar, 2008/2009 PTA President Kay Hardisky, and Climate Control Committee member Carolyn Cook.
 
Mr. Sines reported that his office is currently conducting a temperature study at Ridgely and will continue to do so into the fall of 2008.  He will have initial data back in early summer. 
 
At the meeting, Senator Brochin noted that the upstairs classrooms were excessively hot and that airflow seemed to be hampered by the lack of opening windows.  He noted that it seemed unusual for a school without air conditioning to be unable to open 50% of its windows.  Senator Brochin asked Mr. Novak from BCPS to set up a meeting with the window manufacturer to see if the problem can be solved by making changes to the current windows, such as allowing all to open or allowing them to open more. 
 
Julie Sugar suggested that if the window solution is costly, it may be a more  cost effective solution to install the chillers to allow Ridgely’s new climate control system to be fully functional, estimated to cost $900.000.
 
Mr. Novak agreed to check into whether a possible solution is to go back to the window manufacturer.  Mr. Novak will get back in touch with Senator Brochin.

We sincerely thank Senator Brochin for advocating for our school and working with BCPS to resolve the heat issues!

Board of Education Meeting June 19, 2008
 
At the June meeting of the Baltimore County Board of Education, Ridgely student Hayley Mullen asked the Central Area Stakeholder if she could make statements during the Central Area Educational Advisory Council's speaking time.  The CAEAC representative there, Jasmine Shriver, agreed to allow Hayley to speak.  Jasmine Shriver started off by saying that heat is a severe problem for the 50% of non-airconditioned schools in Baltimore County and urged the board to look into a solution.  Hayley then spoke about her experiences at Ridgely.  She did an AMAZING job.   She stated her facts with poise and determination.  After Hayley spoke, many speakers commented on "the student who spoke" and complimented her on her speech and seconded her points, that BCPS and the school board need to figure out a way to get ALL the schools in Baltimore County air conditioned!  If you get the chance to meet Hayley Mullen, be sure and thank her for speaking out on her own about this cause!