Dallas ISD middle school without heat amid cold snap

[TexasStooge]

By TAWNELL D. HOBBS / The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS, Texas - Students and staff at Spence Middle School have layered on the clothing lately when coming to class.

The Old East Dallas school went without heat over the last several days as North Texas battled freezing temperatures.

Dallas school district officials had said Wednesday night that the heat had been fixed. But by Friday morning, when students and staff returned after a day off because of bad weather, the equipment was again not working well.

“It’s getting intolerable,” a teacher, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Friday morning.

As the district worked to bring in portable heaters, maintenance crews worked on the system. And on Friday afternoon, district officials reported that the heating system was fixed in all but a few classrooms, the cafeteria and auditorium. They said that crews would continue working on the remaining problems.

Yolanda Davis said she bundled up her 13-year-old daughter when sending her to Spence Friday morning. Ms. Davis said she’s really concerned about the temperature in the building when students take final exams next week.

“You can’t concentrate when you’re cold,” she said.