Schools Question Whether To Turn Up The Heat

Schools aren’t turning on the heat because cold mornings can still turn into warm afternoons. This is a common problem across the area. WSOC-TV Forest Hill Students Cold Some students have brought blankets to school to keep warm.

In the halls of Forest Hills High School in Wingate, students are wearing fleece, leather and even parkas.

"I get here around 7:30 and when I come in I can literally see my breath. It's pretty cold in here," said student Leon Staton.

Forest Hills' dilemma is one shared by many area schools this time of year - when to turn on the heat. Principal Archie Price says it's tough call for administrators.

"Do you want it cool for awhile or hot for awhile? Is the temperature going to change? So that's what you just never know when the right time is," he said.

Principal Price surveyed his teachers and overwhelming he says they wanted to wait until at least Thanksgiving.

The conversion from air-conditioning to heat can only be done once a year and takes at least a day.

Parent Rachel Blakeney says that shouldn't matter. Student Complain About The Cold "Sitting in a class and having to cover up with covers is pretty bad and that really concerns me," said Blakeney.

Student Randi Finnegan says newer and older parts of the campus have much different temperatures.

"In most of my classes, I'm like, 'Turn it on' and in other classes I'm like, 'Please don't turn it on.' We just have to all adjust to whatever," said Finnegan.

Principal Price says as soon as he sees it's going to be 30-degrees for a weeklong stretch, he'll be calling the maintenance department to let them know it's time.

Eyewitness News also checked with Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. They too leave it up to the individual schools.

A CMS spokesperson says most of their AC systems have been converted to heat except at about 20 to 25 schools where principals haven't requested it yet.