Local
Fort Worth ISD plans temporary cooling for Southwest High choir as auditorium repairs await parts
Southwest High School’s show choir has rehearsed for months in an auditorium without working air conditioning, with practices lasting as long as three hours. Fort Worth ISD says replacement parts are expected to ship Oct. 26 and portable cooling units are planned for next week, but the district has not given a date for restoring the system.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Students in Southwest High School’s nationally ranked show choir have been rehearsing in a hot auditorium while the school’s air-conditioning system remains out of service, prompting families to question both the repair delay and the district’s communication.
Parents say the problem began before summer break. The choir practices up to four days a week, with sessions lasting as long as three hours, as students prepare for an early November performance.
“It’s been super hot, to the point where I’m sweating,” student Rayana Ferrell said. “I don’t even want to perform anymore. I’m just tired in general.”
Ferrell said she brings a small fan to rehearsal. Other fans have provided some relief, students said, but have not made the space comfortable.
Dr. Elvia Espino, whose son is in the choir, said students have continued demanding rehearsals without adequate cooling. She also said families and community members encountered the problem at auditorium performances before the school year ended.
Fort Worth ISD said replacement parts for the system are scheduled to ship from the manufacturer on Oct. 26. The district had initially expected them on Oct. 23, but the shipment was delayed because the components are no longer regularly stocked and must be sourced or manufactured. The equipment is under warranty, the district said.
While repairs are pending, the district plans to provide portable cooling units for practices and scheduled events next week. Staff and HVAC technicians will coordinate their setup and operation, the district said. It has not provided a confirmed date for the auditorium’s air conditioning to be restored.
Espino said she was frustrated that families had not been informed earlier about the outage or the steps being taken to address the heat. She said she regularly receives school communications through ParentSquare but did not receive notice about the problem.
“It took getting a reporter. It took notifying a TV station to get this type of response,” Espino said, calling the district’s actions reactive.
Despite the conditions, Ferrell said the choir remains committed to its upcoming performance. “I believe in my teammates,” she said. “If they can believe in me, then I believe in them.”