Ewa Beach teacher treated for heat exhaustion
A teacher at Ewa Beach Elementary said she was treated for heat exhaustion and dehydration Tuesday due to working in her hot classroom.
But Jennifer Pimentel, who has taught at the school for 10 years, said she is not the only one.
“It’s widespread in Ewa,” Pimentel said Wednesday. “It’s bad. Somebody needs to do something about it.”
Ewa Beach Elementary is on the top of the DOE’s air conditioning priority list, followed by Ilima Intermediate and Campbell High. Concerns have been raised over the hot temperatures in classrooms, which has prompted community and business donation campaigns for fans and air conditioning units.
The DOE estimates that it will cost $1.7 billion to install air conditioning in all of its schools. The department has implemented other heat-abatement options, including the use of solar-powered ventilators, solar lights and ceiling fans. The goal is for classroom temperatures to be at 76 degrees.