Amherst Public Schools were closed today due to "slippery floors"
So for those of you hoping Amherst makes international news with a second straight day of school closings due to "slippery floors" I hate to disappoint you, but it looks as though there will be school tomorrow. Yeah!
A reliable source tells me the floors dried out nicely overnight and although today's weather is not ideal, only a real monsoon with a sudden spike in temperature would change things.
I'm sure almost all parents will be happy to hear this. Sorry kids.
The reason why air conditioning did not negate this problem is because the older school buildings are not all that well equipped. Crocker Farm has the best system because it was the one most recently renovated ($5.6 million project in 2002).
But all the others leave lots to be desired. According to my source:
The High School only has AC on the second and third floor via window units. During the 1997 renovation ($22 million) they did not install central AC in the addition. The original 1955 portion and 1965 addition have no AC. So less than 50% of the building has air conditioning.
Wildwood and Fort River have limited AC throughout the entire building. The systems were put in 1970 and 1972, are antiquated, and operate moderately. Middle School has a 1969 AC system throughout the building and operates moderately.
The High School only has AC on the second and third floor via window units. During the 1997 renovation ($22 million) they did not install central AC in the addition. The original 1955 portion and 1965 addition have no AC. So less than 50% of the building has air conditioning.
Wildwood and Fort River have limited AC throughout the entire building. The systems were put in 1970 and 1972, are antiquated, and operate moderately. Middle School has a 1969 AC system throughout the building and operates moderately.
The problem was not that the floor wax "melted". The school buildings were constructed on concrete slab foundations which remains cool at ground level. When warm moist air makes contact, the result is condensation.
And, you know, the nearer your destination the more you're slip slidin away.