Shut sweltering schools, teachers' union tells board

A union representing high school teachers is calling on Ottawa's biggest publicboard to shut downschools without air conditioning after one of its members was sent to hospital with heat-related illness Monday.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) is making the requestamid a record-breaking September heat wave that's seen temperatures in Ottawa climb to33 C and the humidexreach nearly 40.

"If it says it's going to be 40-something degrees with the humidex, maybe think about closing schools," said Nancy Akehurst, local districtpresident of the OSSTF.

It's affecting learning, it's affecting student health, it's affecting staff health.- Nancy Akehurst, OSSTF

She pointed out that while the board hasan emergency closure plan in place for such events as a broken furnaceor an ice storm, there's no such plan forextreme heat.

The union representing elementary teachers with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) also weighed in Tuesday.

"Students and teachers in many classrooms are subject to unbearable conditions," Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) president Sam Hammond said in a release Tuesday.

"Our changing climate is sending a strong message that the Ministry of Education needs to take action," he said.

Temperatures in the capital soared Monday, which was not only the hottest day of 2017 but also the hottest fall day on record in Ottawa. Heat warnings remained in effect Tuesday, and Environment Canada said it would be Thursday before the city sees a return to normal temperatures.

• Monday was the hottest day in Ottawa so far this year
• Ottawa set to break another heat record on Tuesday

High school teacher hospitalized

On Monday a teacher at Ottawa's RidgemontHigh School had to be hospitalizedas temperatures inside some of the school's classrooms soared to 30 C.

"This was an employee who had some pre-existing issues, and we certainly understand that heat can be an exacerbating factor," said OCDSB superintendent Nadia Towajj.

Towajjsaid the building's only air conditioner, which cools the school library, was broken. On Tuesday a crew was on the school's roof repairing the unit.

Some students moved to cooler classrooms in the basement, while some classes moved to shaded areas outside.

'It's affecting learning'

"People are suffering," Akehurst said. "It's affecting learning, it's affecting student health, it's affecting staff health."

The ETFOsaid itsmembers have also been calling with concerns about the heat. At least one school where most windows don't open also has a broken air conditioner, the union said.

In August, the ETFOcalled on the Ministry of Education to:

• Ensureall schools without air conditioning have a heat stress plan.
• Seta maximum indoor temperature limit, with an optionto close schools if that temperature is reached.
• Providing air conditioning or heat reduction systems in all Ontario elementary schools.

There may be cases where it is necessary to send a studentsor employeeshome.- Sharlene Hunter, OCDSB

OCDSB spokespersonSharlene Hunter wrote in a statement that "there may be cases where it is necessary to send a student(s) or employee(s) home."

The board saidit has been in touch with Ottawa Public Health regarding strategies to manage the heat, including ensuring staff are aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke.

The board also said it will ensure plenty of opportunities for students to drink water throughout the day.

According to the OCDSB:

• Thirty-eight of its schoolsare either fully air-conditioned or have some kind of mechanical cooling such as ceiling fans.
• Sixty schools are at least two-thirds air conditioned.
• Fifty-onehave no air conditioning, though some have at least one designated "cool"room such asa library.
• Among the 51 schools with no air conditioning in their classrooms, someadministrative offices are air-conditioned.

The board told parents it will cut back onphysically strenuous activities, and consider cancellinggym classes.

No AC at home, premier says

When asked about the issue in Queen's Park on Tuesday, Premier Kathleen Wynne said she had to move a meeting to a cooler room, and said she didn't have air conditioning at home, drawing boos from some opposition members.

"I recognize that it is very hot in schools that were built ina time when there weren't the kinds of heat events that we have ... but again, I have a lot of faith in the educators in our schools to make sure that children and teachers are kept safe," Wynne said.

The government has spent billions of dollars on school upgrades and it's up to individual boards to decide how to spend that money, she said.

"There has been money that has flowed to school boards where decisions are made about changes in their buildings."