Students at Santa Monica High School walked out of class to protest malfunctioning air conditioning as a brutal and unusually long heat wave pushed Southern California temperatures to historic highs. The impromptu demonstration came together through social media, with students frustrated that cooling systems in parts of the campus simply could not keep up with the heat baking the region.
According to SMDP, portable air-conditioning units were providing temporary cooling in language and English classrooms at the school while permanent fixes were underway. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District said most of its campus air-conditioning systems were in fact working and cooling classrooms, while a small number of areas needed repairs or replacement parts.
Discovery Building Cooling Problems
The Discovery Building's air-conditioning system shut itself down overnight after detecting extreme temperatures, and the same report notes it was mostly operating again with some problems continuing. Other areas of the school also needed repairs or replacement parts. Facilities teams planned to install temporary fixes while they work toward permanent repairs, the same account notes.
This is not the first time this year that cooling systems have buckled under pressure at the district. Teachers and a principal told the district's Board of Education on Sept. 3 that recent HVAC failures left classrooms in the Discovery and Innovation buildings dangerously hot, according to citizenportal.ai. Separately, following a September 2024 heat wave, the district's Board of Education was scheduled to consider a $169,720 contract with AC Pros to survey and repair HVAC systems in the Samohi Innovation Building, per smdp.com.
A Heat Wave for the Record Books
The classroom troubles are unfolding against the backdrop of a Southern California heat wave that has shattered October temperature records, with some readings running as much as 22 degrees above normal, according to the Los Angeles Times. Downtown Los Angeles reached at least 100 degrees for four consecutive days this month, the longest such October streak since records began, the Times reports. Fourteen high-temperature records fell across Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties on Oct. 5, according to KTLA, which also reported record highs of 104 degrees in downtown Los Angeles, 104 degrees at Long Beach Airport, 102 degrees at Hollywood Burbank Airport and 106 degrees in Woodland Hills.
Accounts differ slightly on the history behind that downtown Los Angeles record. The Los Angeles Times reported the 104-degree reading broke a previous mark of 101 degrees set in 1954 and tied in 1971, while The Guardian reported it broke a prior Oct. 5 record of 101 degrees set in 1953. The Guardian also reported that Santa Ana hit a record 106 degrees, surpassing a previous daily high of 103 degrees from 1953.
No Relief Expected Right Away
The heat wave has been driven by high pressure parked over Southern California combined with a lack of wind. Weather models suggested temperatures would not decline much as October continued, according to the Los Angeles Times. The National Weather Service issued extreme heat warnings for the region through 8 p.m. Thursday, the Times reported. Highs along the coasts and valleys were expected to hold in the 90s to low 100s, with even the beaches offering little relief at temperatures in the upper 80s, per the same Times report.
There are signs of a turnaround on the horizon. KTLA reported that the high-pressure ridge responsible for the heat dome was expected to begin breaking down Friday, with more significant cooling arriving Saturday and Sunday. The Guardian similarly reported that coastal areas were expected to start cooling Thursday, with rain in the forecast for the following week.
District Says It's Keeping Schools Running
The record-breaking heat has put pressure on school cooling systems, with repairs underway at Santa Monica High School. Earlier in September, teachers and a principal told the district's Board of Education that HVAC failures had left classrooms in the Discovery and Innovation buildings dangerously hot.
The pattern of HVAC and electrical trouble at Santa Monica High School is not new. Back in September 2023, the campus canceled classes entirely after a major blown fuse knocked out power, leaving the school unable to operate lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, phones or kitchen services, according to the Los Angeles Times. That history underscores why students and staff are growing increasingly frustrated as cooling failures recur during some of the hottest weather the region has ever recorded in October.
