ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – In the upcoming election, Albuquerque Public Schools is hoping voters pass a $350 million bond that APS says will cover the costs of several improvement projects, one being an overhaul of outdated cooling systems.
Story continues below
At the start of each school year, in recent years, one of the biggest challenges the district faces is keeping schools cool as hot summer heat persists. To address that, APS is seeking $40.2M as part of a bond package to convert 20 schools to refrigerated air.
“You always had high temperatures here and there,” he notes. But over the last six or so years, he adds, extreme temperature days and high humidity have become more prevalent during August and September, and therein lies the multi-million dollar problem,” John Dufay, APS assistant deputy of operations, stated in an APS news release.
The district on Tuesday released a list of schools would be converted to refrigerated air if the bond passes. Those schools are:
- New Futures High School
- Mary Ann Binford Elementary
- Barcelona Elementary
- Reginald Chavez Elementary
- Dennis Chavez Elementary
- Chamiza Elementary
- Tomasita Elementary
- Edmund G. Ross Elementary
- Kit Carson Elementary
- Apache Elementary
- Pajarito Elementary
- Chaparral Elementary
- Double Eagle Elementary
- Hubert Humphrey Elementary
- Painted Sky Elementary
- Desert Ridge Middle
- Eisenhower Middle
- Grant Middle
- Washington Middle
- Hayes Middle
The district said it selected the schools following technical evaluations that were conducted on several factors, including the age and condition of existing systems at each of the schools and their effectiveness. Another key factor considered was the ease of converting the existing system to refrigerated air – including ductwork, electrical, insulation, and more.
APS said specifically that New Futures has to be done due to the population it serves and the required standards for daycare.
Roughly 72% of the square footage at APS schools is cooled with evaporative coolers, which are working as planned, but are not able to keep up with extreme heat and high humidity, according to the district.
The district said its goal is to get refrigerated air in all classrooms, an effort that Dufay estimates will cost hundreds of millions and take several years to complete.
Currently, refrigerated air conditioning is the standard for all new APS construction projects.
The $350 million bond for APS will be on the ballot in the Nov. 4 general election. To learn more about other projects APS said it will be able to pay for if voters pass the bond, click here.
