Florida schools so poor, they turned off the cold drinking water

From MySuncoast.com

by Max Wintz

SARASOTA, Fla. - School districts are so desperate to find savings in their budgets that in Sarasota County schools, they're cutting off cold water to drinking fountains.

The compressors, or chillers as they are also known, will be turned off beginning next school year in each water fountain located inside the schools. The fountains outside will be left alone.

“Everything we spend on energy is a dollar that we can’t spend in the classroom,” says Jody Dumas, the school system’s director of facilities.

Starting this fall, the chillers inside of the fountains will be turned off...leaving students like Houston Emmons without cold drinking water. “No students in general really use the warm water fountains. Only when it's winter time and they are cold,” says the Pine View student.

Parents like Danille Kehs aren’t happy with the idea either. “With us living in Florida, where the temperatures can reach 90 to 100 degrees, I think it's a good idea for kids to have cold water.”

Dumas acknowledges the decision may not be a popular one, but believes it could save the district between $25,000-$35,000 a year. “We are still providing water. And the fact of the matter is, we are trying to make every reduction as far away from the classroom as possible, so that we don't have to take reductions from teachers and things of that nature.”

It’s a reduction that still may not be cool with some, but signifigant for others, like teachers, in the long run.

This upcoming school year, students and faculty will also notice a reduction of air conditioning usage after classes; as well as custodial crews working in teams focusing on one area of the school while the electricity remains off in other parts of the building.

Also, teachers will be given reminders to keep their lights off in the classroom. Just more ways the school system is looking at saving not just money, but jobs.

http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/story/Chill-out-school-system-to-turn-off-cold-water-on/c8XPncb_t0m15AW6Si6uWg.cspx