Dear Petition Supporters,

My name is Jason, and I’m part of the Decision Maker team at Change.org. I reached out to local officials to share your petition and learn more about what’s happening around the call to install air conditioning in Winslow Township school classrooms.

Here’s what I learned:

Officials shared that they understand and appreciate the concerns raised by the community, which is why they’ve already set aside millions of dollars to install HVAC systems in three schools. However, one of the biggest challenges they’ve faced is that no contractors have submitted bids for the projects. This has largely been due to recent tariffs and the difficulty in predicting costs, which has created uncertainty for vendors.

They also clarified that while some have asked about installing window units as a more immediate solution, the district has determined that HVAC systems are the most viable long-term approach. Window units present several logistical and cost-related issues—including the number of classrooms and windows, and the added burden on taxpayers, especially given the money already committed to HVAC installation.

Lastly, officials acknowledged community members who have come together to create a GoFundMe campaign, and while they appreciate the care and initiative behind that effort, they noted that the district cannot legally accept donations from these type fundraisers or engage with them.

We hope this update has been useful.

Jason
Change.org Decision Maker Team