WFLA

Hillsborough Co. has long list of schools that need A/C repairs

At Plant High School in Tampa, three large temporary air conditioning units pump cold air into the gym. The air conditioning unit at the school failed and the three units were brought in as a band aid.

Plant is not the only school in the county with air conditioning problems. In fact, the school isn’t even on a list of 38 other schools in the county that need major A/C repairs.

The total cost of all of the repairs needed at the schools is more than $343 million and Hillsborough County School Superintendent Jeff Eakins says the county just doesn’t have the money needed to fix everything.

“We definitely have a great need and the revenue coming in just isn’t going to be able to fulfill that need immediately,” said Eakins.

During the summer, the school district worked to repair or replace 10 air conditioning systems at schools, but that only scratches the surfaces of the critical needs repair list.

Hillsborough County School Board members say the fault lies with Tallahassee where legislators have refused to adequately fund education.

“Hopefully Tallahassee hears the message. I think we’ve been very loud and clear on the fact that we’ve not been able to get funding the way that schools need to be funded,” said School Board Chairman Sally Harris.

Jeff Eakins maintains if the legislature won’t send the money, the county may have to explore other sources of revenue to make badly needed repairs.

“It could be anything from a sales tax, it could be a millage increase on property tax, there’s different ways other communities have gone about acquiring additional revenue,” said Eakins.

List of Hillsborough County Schools air conditioning projects 

Air Conditioning Projects Complete in Summer 2018
B.T. Washington, Crestwood, Edison, Gorrie, Morgan Woods, Williams, Wilson, Roosevelt, Rodgers, Cypress Creek

Schools in Need of Immediate Air Conditioning Overhauls or Replacements

Air Conditioning Projects for 2018-19 (total $95,756,000)

Air Conditioning Projects for 2020-21 (total $108,759,000)