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As a cost-savings measure the buildings in the Granville School District will be cooling off just a bit this winter.
At last Monday night’s board of education meeting Superintendent Dan Teplesky asked the board to consider moving the thermostats in the buildings down to 68 degrees from 70 degrees as a saving measure during the school day while classes were is session.
He said a letter would be sent home to alert parents of elementary-aged children to this change which would be implemented district wide.
Parents of high school students would be notified by the district’s Connect-Ed phone calling system. The system also makes phone calls for the district in the event of emergencies or weather closures.
“We ask parents to layer when their kids come to school. If they wear a T-shirt, add a turtleneck or sweater or sweatshirt,” Teplesky said.
The temperature change is scheduled to take effect on Nov. 3, he said, far enough in the future to get the word out to everyone in the district.
“We have kids who walk to school during the winter wearing a t-shirt. Parents need to know their kids can’t do that anymore,” he said at the board meeting.
Teplesky said the students would need to get used to the idea that the school will not be overly warm during the school day and might require some to bring a sweater or heavy shirt to be comfortable.
The hope was to get students to dress in layers that would allow them to add or remove clothing to get to a personal comfort level.
Teplesky said other cost savings measures included having teachers close the blinds in their rooms overnight to help hold in heat from the day.
Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Brad Wood also has the thermostats set to keep the building as cool as 63 or 64 degrees when they are not in use by students during off hours.
Teplesky said Woods was currently on vacation, but had told him previously the district stood to save a certain amount of money per degree the building temperatures was lowered.
The board agreed to move forward with the measure. The move will continue to be monitored by school officials, he said.
“At one of our administration meetings I’ll seek input as to the climate and comfort level of each building,” Teplesky said.
Knowing that everyone feels temperatures differently he said students should come dressed to find a happy medium.
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