San Antonio – Delay in External Report on Heater Failures in Local Schools
San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) faces another delay in releasing an external report focusing on the January heating failures that took place during the year’s coldest days. Originally, SAISD officials claimed that the report’s completion might take a couple of weeks. However, by late February, the projection was pushed back to late March. Now, as we move deep into April, the report is yet to be made public.
Aquino’s Announcement
Superintendent Jaime Aquino reassured the public in a video update released last Friday that the report is indeed on its way. He stated that he anticipated receiving an executive summary of the review in the spring. He mentioned the district’s partnership with the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) for conducting this crucial investigation. Several other reports from TASBO will be released in phases as they continue this vital task.
Updates on Heating and Ventilation Systems
Aquino additionally provided updates on the district’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. He confirmed that the district has replaced HVAC systems across 18 campuses. An additional 12 campuses are scheduled to have their systems replaced by the end of summer. The primary source of funding for these replacements comes from the 2020 bond issue.
“Our aging system, assembled over the years, struggles to handle sharp temperature fluctuations. As a result, solutions will not materialize overnight,” Aquino said.
Effort to Prevent Similar Incidents in the Future
Aquino assured the public of the district’s dedication to preventing a recurrence of the events experienced in January. “The welfare of our students and staff will always be our top priority,” Aquino stated.
In the interim, SAISD is working with external HVAC vendors and contractors to undertake ongoing system inspections and repairs. The aim is to deal extensively with the district’s aging systems to ensure a warm, safe, and comfortable learning environment for students and teachers alike.
Is Human Error to Blame?
Upon first realization of the heater breakdowns’ extent in January, Aquino attributed the failures to a blend of human error and system failures. The forthcoming external report is expected to elucidate the actual role human error had in these failures.
