Associated Press Published

Air-Conditioning Problems Continue to Plague Kanawha Schools

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Officials say air-conditioning problems closed at least three Kanawha County schools on Friday.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports a school where teachers filed a grievance over years of AC problems was among the schools closed.

That school’s principal, Paula Potter, says Dunbar’s Ben Franklin Career and Technical Education Center was shuttered all day Friday, after it closed Thursday morning. Potter says officials hope to resolve the AC problems by Monday.

St. Albans and Riverside high schools both let students out around noon Friday.

On Aug. 12, the county closed seven schools due to AC and power failures. Four schools were closed Aug. 15 for similar issues.

Kanawha schools Superintendent Ron Duerring has said the county has old AC systems and not enough money to replace them or make major upgrades.