Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent says district is addressing HVAC issues that led to early student dismissals

Memphis-Shelby County School Board officials held a press conference on Tuesday to address community members’ concerns about district infrastructure after students at 12 schools were dismissed early due to issues with HVAC systems on Monday.

Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins told community members during the conference that most of those schools’ HVAC issues had since been fixed but acknowledged the need for the district to address aging infrastructure and air conditioning issues amid high temperatures moving forward. At least three schools had to dismiss early Tuesday due to ongoing issues as well. Sherwood Middle School, Sheffield High School and Douglass High School were among the schools mentioned by officials that had HVAC issues this week. The press conference was held as some parents complained about a lack of communication from the district about the HVAC issues.

That complaint has been a recurrent theme among local parents and community members in general in recent months, as the district continues efforts to restructure school personnel to better meet students’ academic needs in the school years moving forward.

“Yesterday, we early released 12 schools for heating conditions in the building as we prioritize the safety and the well-being of our most precious cargo today. Although that number was down to three schools that we early released, more than one school or one school in general is too much,” she said at Tuesday's conference.

Feagins told community members that the school board will discuss how to go about increasing investments to strengthen district infrastructure, adding that issues such as HVAC problems can negatively affect student performance and attendance.

“What we do know about HVAC systems is the impact on pollutants. The filtering doesn't happen well and so that impacts the health of our students. I shared, during a board presentation, the impact on our students with asthma and what's happening every time that we have to release a student or a school earlier," she said.

While Feagins did not provide specific information on the schools’ HVAC issues or how Memphis-Shelby County Schools plans to tackle HVAC issues moving forward, the superintendent called on government officials to support the district to modernize and maintain school facilities.

“This [is a call] for our government officials and those who have the decision-making power, and certainly those who can provide the level of investment that is necessary, to stand with us, to collaborate with us, to make the way forward better,” she said.

Feagins thanked the district’s facilities team for working “around the clock” to address ongoing AC issues, as well as local vendors who she said prioritized fixing the district’s HVAC systems this week to reopen schools.