LaShondra Evans

Grand Canyon University

EAD 536: Strategic Leadership and Management in the Principalship

Michael Sollitto

September 15, 2021

 A principal’s duties are not limited to being the educational leader on the campus. They

are also the decision maker in adverse situations. Although, they cannot be prepared for every

adverse situation possible, they must have the necessary tools to make wise decisions that keep

the students and staff in a safe learning environment. When the air conditioning units stop

working in Arizona on a hot day in May, you must make quick decisions that will keep the

students and staff out of harm's way.

The main decision that needs to be made is whether the school environment without air

conditioning will remain a conducive learning environment as the day gets hotter. I would need

to speak with maintenance immediately to see if the problem with the air conditioning is

something that can be fixed within the hour or if it will take more time. I would ask if the parts

were readily available that are needed to fix the air conditioning. I would also want to know

when the problem was noticed and if they have been working on the situation once they were

aware of what was happening. If needed, I would contact district level maintenance services to

help with the situation. The information from maintenance would help determine my next

moves.

In the meantime, I would send a Remind 101 text to the staff with the following message:

Dear Staff, we are aware of the air conditioning situation and are working diligently for a

solution for you and your students. Please call the front office if you have a situation that

requires immediate attention. Thank you for your patience as we work through the issue. Next, to

ensure the safety of the students and staff, I would send out a survey for teachers to let me know

how many students are in their classrooms. Once I receive the number of students in each

classroom, I would have paraprofessionals, and all extra hands deliver water bottles to each

classroom. This may require trips to the store to acquire enough water bottles, ice, and disposable
cups (if needed). If the building has windows that open, I would encourage teachers to open

windows and the doors to their classrooms. I would discourage teachers from taking students

outside the school building because this can make the situation more complicated. Students

would now be in the direct heat of the sun or potentially run to an unauthorized area, even if they

are being supervised. It only takes a second for a student to run out of sight. If the school has an

atrium that is within the school building that would be allowed but that would have to be

controlled as to not have everyone out there at the same time.

In Arizona, school facilities are supposed to have HVAC systems capable of maintaining

a temperature between 68 and 82 degrees except in areas where the elevation is above 5,000 feet.

Out of all the information that I obtained; Arizona districts do not have any emergency systems

put into place for air conditioning issues. In areas that have extremely hot temperatures, there

should be emergency supplies and plans in place for sudden air conditioning loss. It seems that

students must endure hot classrooms and try to learn at the same time. Having a clear district

policy in place for this situation would affect my decision in whether I could dismiss classes for

the rest of the day.

With this being said, I would contact the associate superintendent over my campus to

assist in the decision making towards a solution. When the temperature rises above 90 degrees, it

becomes hard for the body to cool itself. Also, the school buildings will hold the heat within the

building, which makes it too hot for effective teaching and learning. Sending students home early

could create a problem of sending students who ride the bus to unsupervised homes.

I would discuss my initial plan with the associate superintendent for feedback and

adjustments to my plan. I would first find out additional information from maintenance about

how long it will take to get the air conditioning to work again. I would contact district level
maintenance supervisors to see if the school can be provided with portable air conditioning units

or fans. Withing the next hour, I would get the number of students in each class to provide cold

water to each student. This plan may require trips to the store for water, cups, and ice. The

school’s budget would be used to purchase these items, as there should always be money set

aside for emergencies. I would communicate with teachers to look for signs of distress in their

students such as headaches, nausea, confusion, inability to think, or vomiting because these are

signs of overheating. In any situation, it is imperative to be transparent to parents. I would

communicate to parents the situation with the air conditioning with an estimated time that it will

be fixed. I would let parents know that the school will be providing the students with ample

amounts of water to stay cool. I expect that this communication would make some parents pick

their students up early from school. This is to be anticipated, but I would not dismiss the campus

for the day unless advised by my supervisor to shorten the school day.

I realize that as a future educational leader, it is impossible to be an expert at every

adverse situation that may arise. I understand that it is important to be as prepared as possible by

practicing drills, keeping emergency supplies stocked on campus, and planning for the unknown.

During emergency situations, the safety of the students and staff should always be a priority in

every decision made.

 References

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Arizona Schools Facilities Board Rules and Policies. (2006). Retrieved September 12, 2021,

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