Bill Griffin, a former principal running in the 173rd Legislative District, attended the recent Board of Education meeting, demanding that the School District of Philadelphia address overheated classrooms before next spring. The 52 schools without cooling systems, he said, are only part of the problem.
“Many more schools have inadequate or failing systems,” Griffin said in prepared remarks at the Sept. 24 meeting. “A school system that repeatedly sends children home because the buildings are too hot has failed at one of its most basic responsibilities.”
Griffin recounted his experience at Crossan Elementary, where he was principal in 2006. With no air conditioning and metal grates limiting ventilation, classrooms grew so hot that students could barely lift their heads off their desks. He said the same windows and grates were still there 20 years later.
“The School District of Philadelphia should be ashamed that after 20 years, nothing has been done to address this problem,” he said.
Griffin challenged board members to hold a meeting in one of the affected schools and feel the heat for themselves. “Find the funding. Start now,” he told them.
Griffin, a Republican challenging Democratic Rep. Pat Gallagher, said citing a lack of funding is unacceptable.
“Find the funding, audit the books. Cut waste, innovate, raise money, think outside the box,” he said. ••
