A Message From The NYSUT Member Action Center
By Melinda Person, NYSUT President β’ Sept. 10, 2024
Hi there, MACtivists -
With another school year starting, you can be certain of at least one thing: It's going to be HOT in our schools. Once again, our students and educators will be sweltering in classrooms across the state.
Fortunately, relief is close.
Read onβ¦
Major progress. Thanks to YOUR activism efforts, this past spring the NYS Legislature passed a NYSUT-backed bill that would address extreme heat in schools.
This legislation requires schools to develop plans to ensure student and staff health and safety during times of extreme temperature.
β― Why this matters. The combination of aging infrastructure and climate change has increased the effects of extreme temperatures. Extreme heat in our schools affects students' ability to learn, educators' ability to teach and everyone's health and well-being.
But it's not a done deal yet. Gov. Hochul still needs to sign this important legislation into law. And there's no time to waste as we head into the first week of school.
Many workplaces have limits on just how hot it can get. Even animal shelters have maximum heat limits! We're so close to getting commonsense rules on excessive heat in schools. Please, join me in getting this important legislation signed into law.
In solidarity,