Plans to fix the school’s broken air conditioning units solidified Sept. 9 after principal Alan Goodwin met with private air conditioning contractors from Paramount Mechanical Corporation.

“There have been A/C problems ever since I came to Whitman in 1999, ranging from holes in coils to rust from aging,” Goodwin said. “Fixing the system is like Whack-a-Mole; if you fix one room, another goes bad.”

Under the current MCPS system, individual mechanics fix problems on a case by case basis, but due to a shortage of mechanics, MCPS is forced to hire private contractors to address growing problems, Goodwin said.

“The private company will analyze what needs to be repaired and the costs associated with that,” he said.

The administration expects the company to fix the broken air conditioners in individual classrooms this week, but fixing some larger, school-wide units will be a longer-term project, Goodwin said.

Throughout the building, the overheated school has affected students and teachers daily.

“Students have trouble concentrating because they’re uncomfortable with the heat,” physics teacher Katharine Ostrowski said. “I’ll just be relieved when the temperature is fixed, so students can concentrate on class instead of the climate.”

Workers are currently in Whitman inspecting classroom units, but administration is waiting for Paramount to provide a report and timetable for larger renovations.