Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is donating $200,000 to fund air conditioning at several schools in the Philadelphia School District.
Officials announced the money will go to “improve the learning environment and comfort for students and staff” in 10 schools, Philly Voice reported. Hurts’ donation comes after Philadelphia schools were forced to close early due to high temperatures and lack of air conditioning in buildings in recent years.
The news of Hurts’ charity will be announced by the Eagles quarterback and Philadelphia School District Superintendent Tony B. Watlington at a special ceremony on Friday at one of the schools.
The district’s struggle with school closures due to summer heat and high temperatures has been a source of controversy over the last two school years. District officials decided to close schools early during the first week of the 2023-2024 school year because of heat. A similar decision was made in June 2022.
Currently, over 57% of the city’s public schools are without ‘adequate cooling systems,’ as revealed in a September 2023 report.
“If temperatures in instructional spaces are expected to hit 90℉ or higher, we then determine if a temporary shift to virtual learning or other action is necessary,” Philadelphia’s Chief Operating Officer Reginald McNeil said in 2022. “Our goal going forward is to make that decision only for the schools that do not have sufficient air-conditioning systems to keep temperatures below 90℉ … and to make the decision as early as possible, preferably the day before, to minimize last-minute disruption for our students, families and staff.”
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When outside temperatures are “forecasted to reach 85℉ for one or more consecutive days,” the school district’s Extreme Heat Emergency Response Procedures are triggered, according to the district website. This policy requires schools to close or have an early dismissal.
Currently, there is a five-year plan to improve air-conditioning conditions in schools throughout the city. District officials announced the intention to have every school fully air-conditioned by 2027, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
