MOUNT GREENWOOD — Portable air conditioning units will be installed Thursday at the Keller Regional Gifted Center in Mount Greenwood, according to a spokesman for Chicago Public Schools.
"Portable cooling units are being brought to Keller to keep temperatures down while the school's air conditioning system is out of service. CPS will be replacing components of the air conditioning system over the summer so that the system is in proper working order by next school year," spokesman Michael Passman said via email late Wednesday.
Passman said Keller uses a "chiller system" to cool the building, but the system has failed. It will be replaced at a cost of roughly $350,000.
Meanwhile, fans had been used to keep students comfortable as temperatures reached into the 90s this week. Going forward, bottled water will also be available for students and staff at the school at 3020 W. 108th St., Passman said.
Tuesday is the final day of class for CPS students.
Chad Syverson, chairman of Keller's Local School Council, said the broken air conditioning became increasingly noticeable as temperatures spiked. And the heat wave is expected to continue, according to the National Weather Service.
Syverson said Keller's air conditioning system has had issues for more than a year. He received an update on the improvements planned to the system at the most recent council meeting June 1.
A Beverly resident, Syverson said the pending solution will include more than just the few minor repairs that have already been tried.
“I’m glad to see CPS is now addressing the current situation. Obviously, though, it is still a priority that the repairs this summer solve the problem more permanently. There will be plenty of hot days in future school years too,” he said.
Keller is a top-ranked school that draws students from throughout the city. The selective-enrollment school has 239 students in first- through eighth-grades.
