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RCSD Students to Experience Cooler Classrooms as District Advances HVAC Upgrades

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RCSD Students to Experience Cooler Classrooms as District Advances HVAC Upgrades


Starting this spring, students across Redwood City School District (RCSD) will experience more comfortable classrooms as the district rolls out portable mobile air conditioning units at all 12 school campuses. This temporary solution will provide immediate relief to classrooms that currently lack cooling systems while RCSD prepares for permanent HVAC upgrades set to begin this summer and continue over the next three summers until all campuses have been upgraded. The district will minimize work during the school year to avoid disruptions to students and staff.

As a result, students at all RCSD schools will benefit from improved classroom conditions, ensuring a more conducive learning environment during warm weather. These enhancements are part of the district’s broader effort to modernize facilities and prioritize student well-being.

To support this initiative, the RCSD Board of Trustees approved an agreement on February 5, 2025, to rent and purchase mobile air conditioning units for use until permanent HVAC systems are installed. This decision follows extensive discussions that began early last fall on the most efficient and cost-effective way to address the district’s cooling needs in the short term while continuing with long-term infrastructure improvements.

Hybrid Approach to Cooling Solutions

After a detailed cost analysis, the district’s bond program management team recommended a hybrid approach: renting units for immediate use at select campuses and purchasing units for others scheduled for subsequent upgrades. This strategy ensures flexibility and cost-effectiveness in addressing varying environmental needs across different school sites.

Specifically, this spring:

  • 130 rental units will be deployed at Adelante Selby, Hoover, Roosevelt, and Taft schools for a duration of 2-3 months, amounting to an estimated cost of $205,000. 
  • For the remaining eight campuses scheduled for HVAC upgrades in later phases, RCSD will purchase 178 units at an estimated total cost of $610,000. 

This summer, four schools—Adelante Selby, Hoover, Roosevelt, and Taft—will receive permanent HVAC upgrades. These campuses were prioritized based on a district-wide assessment, which determined that these facilities required fewer electrical and structural modifications, allowing the district to begin work more quickly. Schools requiring more extensive infrastructure changes will be addressed in future phases to ensure that all campuses receive the necessary improvements in a timely and efficient manner.

Community Input and Funding Allocation

The decision to split funding between rental and purchase options was influenced by community feedback, with suggestions to allocate Measure S funds for purchasing while using alternative funding sources for rentals. This dual approach optimizes financial resources while ensuring immediate relief for classrooms awaiting permanent HVAC upgrades.

Implementation Timeline

The installation of the portable units is set to begin in Spring 2025. This timeline aligns with RCSD’s broader strategy to launch HVAC upgrades at identified campuses during Summer 2025, minimizing disruptions to ongoing school activities.

RCSD remains committed to its comprehensive modernization plan supported by Measure S, which aims to improve infrastructure and create optimal learning environments for all students. The district expresses gratitude to the community for its continued support, emphasizing that these initiatives would not be possible without the support of Measure S, which voters approved in November of 2022. 

With these improvements, students, teachers, and staff can look forward to classrooms that are not only modernized, but also comfortable year-round. As implementation progresses, RCSD will continue to provide updates and engage with stakeholders to ensure transparency and effectiveness in its facilities improvement efforts.

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