Office of the Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Commonwealth Games 1WS 1 William Street Brisbane 4000 PO Box 15033 City East Queensland 4002 Australia Telephone +61 7 3719 7530 Email: education@ministerial.q1d.gov.au 7 APR 2017 Ms Maria Santiago Email: mbsant07@icloud.com Dear Ms Santiago Thank you for your email to the Honourable Kate Jones MP, Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Commonwealth Games, regarding your request to extend the Cooler Schools Zone. The Minister has asked me to respond on her behalf. I acknowledge the concerns you have raised regarding air conditioning in Queensland state schools and appreciate the time you have taken to write. The safety and wellbeing of students and staff is a high priority for the Department of Education and Training. The Department funds air conditioning for schools in the Cooler Schools Zone which includes the hottest and most humid parts of Queensland. Outside of the Cooler Schools Zone, the provision of air conditioning is a decision for each individual school community. Air conditioning has been installed and is incorporated into newly constructed facilities in these zones. Outside of these areas, the Department responds on a case-by-case basis to specific issues such as medical conditions. The Department incorporates passive cooling measures in school and classroom designs to reduce temperatures inside classrooms with building orientation, shade from direct sunlight, good ventilation and ceiling fans among such measures. Some schools outside the Cooler Schools Zone have elected to air condition some or all classroom spaces by working with school communities to prioritise school funds. The Department recognises there can be particularly hot days during the summer period in many parts of Queensland, and has developed guidelines for school principals during high temperature or heatwave conditions. These include: - modifying some school activities during the excessive heat; - postponing any outdoor or sporting activities where appropriate; - allowing increased access to the coolest areas of the school grounds or facilities; - ensuring school lunch boxes are stored in cool areas; and - encouraging students to drink plenty of water and to stay out of the sun. For further information about the Department's Guidelines on Managing Excessive Heat in Schools, please visit the Department of Education and Training's website at www.education.q1d.gov.au/schools/healthy/wellbeing-quidelines/heat.html. Should you require further information, I invite you to contact Mr Dave Baxter, Executive Director, Infrastructure Planning and Delivery, on telephone 3034 4836 or by email at dave.baxterdet.q1d.qov.au. Thank you again for raising this matter and I trust this information is of assistance. Yours sincerely, (Signature) MAT EW JUTSUM Chie if Staff Offic of the Hon Kate Jones MP Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Commonwealth Games Ref: 17/104563