Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
'It's Really Hot Out Here.' What LAUSD Is Doing To Cool Down Schools
Beachy Avenue Elementary's new reading garden is one of the first initiatives toward greening the school by the district's 30% goal.
(
Aaricka Washington
/
LAist
)
Topline:
It’s been more than a year since the Los Angeles Unified School District pledged to add more green space and shade to schoolyards to combat rising temperatures. Why it’s so important to do — and so hard to pull off.
Why it matters: According to the Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment, extremely heat-prone regions of L.A. could see 30 or more additional days with temperatures above 90 degrees by 2050. That means hot weather could stretch further into the school year, says V. Kelly Turner, associate professor of urban planning and geography at UCLA. Research shows heat can negatively impact students’ ability to learn, therefore lowering academic performance.
Why now: It's been more than a year since LAUSD allocated $58 million to outdoor education initiatives, including greening. Then-LAUSD board president Kelly Gonez also followed up with a resolution a few months later, calling for Superintendent Alberto Carvalho to develop a plan to ensure all school campuses are at least 30% green by 2035. But Gonez says she’s still waiting on that final plan.
An LAUSD spokesperson says they are looking into when the finalized plan will be given to the board and will "share further information accordingly."
To learn more, listen to How to LA and check out my story.
Listen
12:34
'It's Really Hot Out Here.' What LAUSD Is Doing To Cool Down Schools
Sponsored message
Go deeper:
- It’s Been More Than A Year Since LAUSD Pledged To Green Schools. But There’s Still No Finalized Plan In Place
- LAUSD Assigns Millions In Funding For ‘Green Schoolyards’
- Los Angeles School Board Promises More Green Space, Shade For More Schools
- It’s A Race: Tree Planting vs. Global Warming
- Higher Test Scores, Joyful Students, ‘The District Of Choice’: Where LAUSD’s New Leader Wants To Be In 4 Years
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
