No AC in many Long Beach schools during heat wave

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The heat is taking its toll on some students in the Long Beach area, especially at schools that don't have air conditioning.

"They are all sweating. There is not a kid who is not sweating," said David Streetz, a teacher.

Sixty percent of Long Beach schools have little or no central air. To make a point, teachers have been recording the temperatures in their classrooms.

At Lakewood High School, it was 94 degrees, Gant Elementary School recorded 99 degrees and at Hughes, it was 102 degrees.

Barry Welsh of the Long Beach Teachers Association says the heat has been making students and staff sick.

"Kids throwing up, teachers getting sick, headaches," Welsh said.

The teachers Association is now making a plea with an online petition drive for air conditioning in all the schools.

The district estimates the cost at as much as $700 million. For now, they are urging principals to rotate students into rooms that do have air conditioning, open those windows and like many Long Beach residents, hope for a change.

Long Beach students were released an hour early from school on Thursday, and they will be released early again on Friday. Some athletic activities have also been canceled.