The chants of more than 500 Campbell High School students, teachers and parents echoed throughout the state Capitol on Thursday in a second rally to get legislators to push for air conditioning in public schools.

Students from all grades held up signs like "No A’s and B’s in 100 degrees" and "Need to stay cool in school" as they waved at passing cars and then marched around the Capitol.

Campbell High rallied for air conditioning in September, but the school has been vocal about getting cooler classrooms for years, said Corey Rosenlee, a social studies teacher at the school and the rally’s organizer. Rosenlee’s efforts were rewarded in a certificate presented by Rep. Bob McDermott (R, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point), who represents the Ewa district.

"Before the first rally there was no money being spent (on air conditioning)," Rosenlee said. "Now at least they’re proposing ideas."

Junior Jaymee Perdida said she thinks the Legislature doesn’t understand that a hot classroom can affect students’ studies.

"Usually I’m excited to come to school," she said, "but then it’s so hot that sometimes I come late. I cool off before going to class."

State Sen. Will Espero, who also represents Ewa, said the Legislature is making progress in the effort to get air-conditioning units in all public schools.

"You have helped us in this debate," he told the crowd of students. "Your advocacy has gotten the attention of many legislators. Hopefully by the end of the session, we will have money. It could be a game-changer, not just for Campbell, but all schools in the state of Hawaii. We are getting really, really close."

The Department of Education has asked for the appropriation of $25 million to fund the installation of air-conditioning units, Rosenlee said. House Bill 2596, which was introduced to support the DOE’s request, passed its second reading by the House Education Committee in February and now faces the Finance Committee.

Rep. Takashi Ohno (D, Nuuanu-Liliha-Puunui-Alewa Heights), the bill’s sponsor, said he was pleased to see that as of Wednesday the $25 million was still available in the state’s budget bill. The bill would allow for electrical upgrades and installation of air-conditioning units, as well as making appropriate accommodations replacing jalousies with regular windows, for instance in classrooms in order to install them.

On Tuesday, Gov. Abercrombie approved $1 million to fund electrical upgrades at the school.

Rosenlee said Campbell is currently No. 3 on the priority list of schools that need air conditioning, behind Ewa Beach Elementary and Ilima Intermediate schools.