Two days before the start of the 2025–26 school year, Poudre School District (PSD) informed parents that most schools would dismiss students two hours early on the first and second days due to high August temperatures. As the heat wave persisted, this schedule was extended into the following week. This change required families to adjust their routines and meant students and staff had to avoid classrooms where air conditioning is limited.
For members of the Poudre Education Association’s (PEA) Heat Committee, these measures reflected progress in their advocacy efforts. The committee has worked over recent years to push PSD for protocols protecting students and staff from extreme heat, as some classrooms have reached temperatures above 100 degrees.
Sarah Vaughn, a middle school math teacher and leader of the Heat Committee, began collecting data ahead of the 2023–24 school year. She used records from other districts and heat index charts to show how outdoor conditions created unsafe indoor environments. Vaughn’s research also identified issues like the “heat island effect” in urban areas and older building designs that worsen warming. Chris Fiero, a high school science teacher, said: “With many older school buildings lacking a/c and designed to trap heat, teachers are facing increasingly untenable working conditions.”
Throughout the 2023–24 year, educators documented classroom temperatures with photos. “We had teachers sending us pictures of classroom thermometers hitting 100 degrees,” Vaughn said. “That made it impossible for the district to say this was just anecdotal.” Teachers reported disruptions to learning as well as health risks.
“Nobody’s healthy in extreme heat,” said Kim Carlson, a fourth-grade teacher. She explained that younger students struggled with temperature regulation. Hannah Ball, a fifth-grade teacher, recalled a student who was hospitalized several times due to high classroom temperatures at Laurel Elementary. Ball stated: “When students are overheated and uncomfortable, they struggle to regulate, leading to more behavioral issues and less learning, through no fault of their own.”
Attempts by PSD to address heat were short-term fixes. Box fans proved noisy and ineffective; swamp coolers increased humidity while being loud and needing frequent refilling by teachers during class time. Carlson described: “Everything was wet… The kids still wanted it turned on because it was better than nothing, but it’s not a long-term solution.” Amanda Baldwin reported classroom humidity levels reaching 61 percent even when using coolers constantly.
To maintain pressure on district leaders for lasting solutions, PEA members wore red shirts at meetings and distributed campaign buttons among staff throughout the year. Amanda Baldwin explained: “We wore the buttons… We passed these buttons out… asking them to wear them until we had some action.” By February 2024, Vaughn and Carlson testified before state lawmakers about conditions in PSD—highlighting that most schools lacked air conditioning—which contributed to advancing statewide legislation on extreme heat in schools that Governor Jared Polis later signed into law.
The PSD board adopted new protocols requiring early release after three consecutive days above 90°F or automatically at 95°F based on data from federal agencies. However, educators noted inconsistencies because official readings came from a zip code cooler than where most schools are located.
Candice Mozer, PEA President commented: “It was so defeating before when classrooms were roasting but no heat day was called.” Mozer added that district leaders now track which schools lack air conditioning while considering upgrades: “They ask us to follow things with fidelity… Well they need to follow these protocols with fidelity too… Parents won’t know what to expect and families need clear communication.”
PEA members believe their work has shifted local policy discussions about safe learning environments. Amanda Baldwin reflected: “Meeting with board members and superintendent showed me our union can win real change…” Sarah Vaughn concluded: “Now we have protocols… early release days… That’s the power of collective action.” The Heat Committee continues its efforts toward safer classrooms for all PSD students.
