Education Secretary Urges Years of Work to Cool Schools Amid Heat Waves

Puerto Rico Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés acknowledged that it could take several years to uniformly air-condition public school classrooms, citing major electrical infrastructure limitations. He explained that the process involves not only installing equipment but also making substantial investments in generation and infrastructure, a process he indicated would take years to stabilize.

Ramos Parés addressed concerns from House Education Committee members, emphasizing the need for cooled classrooms as the island faces frequent and intense heat waves. However, he pointed out that many schools lack the electrical capacity needed for widespread air-conditioning systems, making an immediate solution impossible.

The Education Department has issued a protocol for cooling initiatives during the 2026-27 academic year, and is pursuing reforestation projects and adjusting school uniform policies. The agency’s School Nursing Program also developed protocols for heat-related illnesses.

Rodríguez, the National Weather Service director in Puerto Rico, provided data indicating that 36% of the island’s schools are located in high or critical heat risk areas, with the Ponce educational region having the highest concentration of schools in these zones.

The Public Buildings Authority reported that 44 schools are awaiting funding for painting projects and another 44 require waterproofing work, with estimated needs of $29 million and $37.4 million, respectively. The authority’s executive director, Félix Lassalle, highlighted the need for union support in the maintenance of schools.

The House Education Committee also reviewed additional investigations into the physical conditions of public schools in Las Piedras, Humacao, and Naguabo, as well as a broader study on infrastructure conditions across all public school campuses in Puerto Rico.