Last week, Chicago Public Schools shared that it will cost the district $14.4 billion just to address deferred maintenance for the 649 school buildings in the system, the oldest of which is 150 years old.
Over the summer, we saw the hottest temperatures in recorded history, and Chicago classrooms were no exception. Across the country, from Phoenix to the Midwest, educators are struggling to do their jobs in older buildings that cannot keep classrooms adequately cool or warm during the weather extremes that are becoming the new normal of the climate crisis, such as more frequent heat waves, flooding and other disasters. Climate scientists and experts predict weather incidents will intensify in the future in the Midwest region.
