The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers called for virtual learning on Friday after students returned to school buildings that the union said remained unsafe following last weekend’s snowstorm and several days of extreme cold.
Students resumed in-person instruction on Thursday after schools were closed on Monday and operated virtually on Tuesday and Wednesday. The return followed three consecutive days of closures, but union leaders said conditions inside multiple school buildings had not been adequately resolved. Arthur Steinberg, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, said schools reopened with classrooms lacking heat, broken plumbing systems, and accessibility issues caused by lingering snow and ice.
Steinberg said the union received multiple reports of classrooms registering temperatures at or below 50 degrees. Two Philadelphia teachers shared photographs of classroom thermostats showing readings in that range. In response, students were forced to wear coats throughout the school day, and some classrooms relied on small space heaters to maintain warmth.
“The conditions were not ripe for students and staff to safely return to schools,” Steinberg told CBS News Philadelphia. He said cold temperatures and lingering snow created dangerous conditions inside school buildings. “A number of buildings with no heat. Just got a report from one where the temperature right now has only risen to about 50 degrees,” he said. “That shouldn’t be occupied tomorrow.” Steinberg also said the cold interfered with learning, stating, “You can’t learn like that.”
Heating problems were not the only issue cited by the union. At Vare-Washington Elementary School in South Philadelphia, Steinberg described a “massive flood” caused by burst pipes. The flooding rendered six classrooms and the school’s lunchroom unusable. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers shared photographs showing extensive damage inside the building following the pipe failures.
Steinberg said the problems stem from the age of district buildings, which he said average 75 years old, with aging HVAC systems and plumbing that require constant maintenance and are vulnerable during extreme cold.
The School District of Philadelphia disputed some of the union’s claims and said repairs were completed. District officials said heating was restored to classrooms on the first, second, and third floors at Vare-Washington Elementary School, while several rooms were taken offline until floor repairs could be completed over the weekend.
The district also addressed a partial power outage at Penrose Elementary School on Thursday that disrupted the building’s heating system. Officials said power was restored around 11:30 a.m. and the heating system was working properly.
District officials said staff inspected buildings, restarted heating systems, and cleared snow and ice from entrances and walkways before reopening schools. Steinberg said transportation conditions added to safety concerns, with some students waiting extended periods for buses in freezing temperatures.
Thursday operated on a half-day schedule, and Friday was also scheduled as a half-day. Despite the union’s request, the district said schools would remain open for in-person learning and said district and city officials worked around the clock to clear snow and ice from roads and walkways.
