New Mexico

4 Investigates: Hot APS classrooms

Published

2 years ago

September 23, 2024

We are finally starting to cool off a little as we head into October. But some Albuquerque Public Schools are still struggling with hot classrooms.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – We are finally starting to cool off a little as we head into October. But some Albuquerque Public Schools are still struggling with hot classrooms.

We’re talking hundreds of open work orders, some in schools the district has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to upgrade.

“The problem with this is year is it was just so much hotter,” said APS Assistant Deputy of Operations John Dufay.

Dufay said, in a classroom full of students, even temps in the upper 70’s can feel sweaty and stuffy.

When cool air stops blowing, it’s more than just an APS emergency. At the start of this school year KOB heard from parents of APS students.

“I went in there right before 10 a.m. and it was already 86 degrees in his classroom,” said one parent.

Many were angry.

“Knowing that my baby, my child, is in a classroom for eight hours a day in the heat is not OK,” said another parent.

School staff secretly snapped pictures of thermostats for us. Even students themselves complained.

“Being in the classroom was pretty hard because I was sweating a lot,” said an APS student earlier this year.

APS should have seen it coming. From May to the start of school in August, KOB 4 discovered more than 3,500 work orders at almost every single APS facility.

Even schools that were part of a recent $26 million upgrade.

Despite spending more than a $1 million at Manzano High School, in the last four months, there were 59 work orders. Another $1 million at La Cueva, still 33 work orders.

Even schools that were part of a recent $26 million upgrade.

Despite spending more than a $1 million at Manzano High School, in the last four months, there were 59 work orders. Another $1 million at La Cueva, still 33 work orders.

We found 114 work orders at West Mesa after the district spent close to a million bucks there. Often, money is spent reviving old systems.

For example, Double Eagle Elementary School runs on more than 30 Air Wash systems. Old technology that’s like a large evaporative cooler. It uses water to cool air on its way to the classroom.

“A unit is not foolproof,” said APS Maintenance and Operations Technician Rupert Abeita. “Anything could go wrong with all that technology. Anything could go wrong at any time.”

Abeita is one of only eight in-house HVAC techs at APS. That’s down 44 from more than a decade ago, covering a district now twice the size.

Most APS buildings run on some type of evaporative cooler.

“I would say, probably 40% of the calls, everything is working it’s just not cool enough,” said Dufay.

We know the efficiency drops if there’s humidity and temps are above 95. But these systems live and pull air from rooftops that are much hotter. APS says its recorded temps of around 140 degrees.

It’s why many, like the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, are looking for a more reliable solution for the future.

“There was unanimous agreement that we have to start addressing this problem now,” said Ellen Bernstein, president of the Albuquerque Teacher’s Federation. “Every year it’s a little hotter and a little hotter, and we have more classrooms that are just inadequate to keep teaching and learning comfortably.”

We asked APS why they can’t overhaul current systems.

“A couple of things, cost, obviously is one, but when you do it, what are you going to do with the students?” said Dufay.

Dufay said overhauls routinely take six months, and sometimes much longer.

“Everything is going to come down to time and money, and the cost is so exorbitant to do it. So really there’s not one solution,” said Dufay.

For those schools, new roofing, new duct work, new technology, a total cost, the district said, of half a billion dollars.

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New Mexico

Landlord AC ordinance, Rio Grande water levels, Spotty rain, New legislative office, New Mexico Motorfest

Published

4 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Landlord AC ordinance, Rio Grande water levels, Spotty rain, New legislative office, New Mexico Motorfest

Monday’s Top Stories

Monday’s Five Facts

[1] ABQ City Councilor aims to bolster protections for renters amid unseasonable warmth – Albuquerque city councilor is looking to make sure city landlords are not only providing cooling systems, but also ensuring they actually work when they’re needed. City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn spearheaded an ordinance in December of 2024, requiring all Albuquerque rental properties to have a cooling system. Now, Fiebelkorn is taking it a step further, hoping to establish cooling system performance requirements. The ordinance is expected to be voted on in final action at Monday’s city council meeting.

[2] Rio Grande showing dry spots in Valencia County amid record-low snowpack – Portions of the Rio Grande are now seeing dry spots earlier than expected. Officials say the timing is not normal. In Valencia County, parts of the river are already running dry. Near the river crossing in Los Lunas, the river has open pockets. Further south, it is being reported as dry as well. There is a slight positive outlook for the monsoon season, with forecasters and officials predicting a strong season in the Middle Rio Grande Valley.

[3] Very spotty rainfall, warmer, & mostly calm week – Warmer weather will continue building in across the state throughout the upcoming week. A few isolated rain chances will return Monday in parts of New Mexico, but some of that rain may evaporate before reaching the ground. Temperatures will continue to increase through the middle of the week.

[4] NM representatives celebrate grand opening of new office with open house – A new state legislative office made its debut for representatives Eleanor Chavez and Yanira Gurrola. The new location is just one of the handful of new legislative offices now open across the state. They hosted a grand opening for the building that was open to the public. Representative Gurrola says it’s just one step towards modernizing the state’s legislature. The new office will allow residents to stay more connected to each representative.

[5] New Mexico Motorfest 2026 takes place in celebration of Route 66 Centennial – Another Route 66 celebration took place over the weekend and this one was all about cars. The New Mexico Motorfest happened at the Expo New Mexico racetrack. Over 300 vehicles from classic hot rods to lifted trucks were featured at the event. Some of the proceeds went to New Mexico veterans.

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New Mexico

Los Alamos Public Schools Students Compete At 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair

Published

16 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Los Alamos Public Schools Students Compete At 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair

Students from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Mountain Elementary, Los Alamos Middle School, and Los Alamos High School at the 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair at New Mexico Tech. Photo CourtesyLAPS

LAHS junior Tate Plohr and freshman Linus Plohr qualified to attend the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May in Phoenix, Ariz. Photo Courtesy LAPS

Los Alamos Middle School student Branden Keller was awarded the CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 at the 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair. Photo Courtesy/LAPS

LAPS NEWS RELEASE

Twenty students from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Mountain Elementary, Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) and Los Alamos High School (LAHS) competed, with several garnering awards at the 2026 New Mexico State Science and Engineering Fair held at New Mexico Tech in Socorro.

LAHS junior Tate Plohr qualified to attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) next month in Phoenix, Ariz. He was awarded the 3rd-place Grand Award. Freshman Linus Plohr qualified as an alternate and will also be attending the Regeneron ISEF.

Students who participated in the state competition include, from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Sydney Chen, Mary Beth Kelsey, Lily Neale, Aurora Roberts Voss and Henry Rodarte; and Glyn Lo and Ernest Maupin, Mountain Elementary.

Students from LAMS who competed include Evelyn Fobes, Mason Garcia, Andrew Gilbertson, James Junghans, Sequoya Ke, Brandon Keller, Nejan Liyanage and Daniel Yampolsky.

LAHS students Julia Neale, Linus Plohr, Tate Plohr, Lilia Veteva, Helena Welch and Kalliope Welch competed at the senior level.

2026 Award winners:

Category Awards – Junior Division

Animal Science, Cellular & Molecular
Biomedical & Health Science
- Honorable Mention: Sequoya Ke
Embedded Systems, Math, Robotics, Software & Technology
- 2nd place: Nejan Liyanage
Physics & Astronomy
- 1st place: Sydney Chen
- 2nd place: Mason Garcia
- Honorable Mention: Marybeth Kelsey
Plant Science

Category Awards – Senior Division

Behavioral & Social Science:
- Honorable Mention: Linus Plohr
Earth & Environmental
- Honorable Mention: Lilia Viteva
Embedded Systems, Math, Robotics, & System Software
- 3rd Place: Helena Welch and Kalliope Welch
Physics & Astronomy

Grand Awards

ISEF finalist 3rd place: Tate Plohr
Brandon Keller received the CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. James Jungans and Marybeth Kelsey garnered Thermo Fisher Awards.

Other special award winners include:

CO2 & Greenhouse Reduction Awards (Junior Division)
- Daniel Yampolsky, 2nd place, Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Sequoya Ke, 1st place, Biomedical & Health Science
- Brandon Keller, 1st place, Energy & Materials Science
- Andrew Gilbertson, 1st place, Physics & Astronomy
CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Reduction Award (Senior Division)
- Lilia Viteva, 1st place, Earth & Environmental Sciences
Office of Naval Research Award
David Shortess Award
New Mexico AVS Award
Citadel Award
Naval Research Award
NM Network for Women in Science & Engineering Award
Yale Science & Engineering Award
Rose Baca Rivet Award

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New Mexico

ASU baseball to host New Mexico State, Baylor

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

ASU baseball to host New Mexico State, Baylor

Arizona State baseball will host a four-game homestand, beginning with New Mexico State on Wednesday, April 22.

The Sun Devils and Aggies faced each other in late March, with ASU winning 10-4. The two teams will meet for the final time at 6:35 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

ASU will then welcome Baylor on Friday, April 24, for a three-game series. The Sun Devils have yet to face the Bears this season, but ASU has been doing well so far and has been in the top 25 for four weeks.

Sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston earned Big 12 player of the week honors on April 13, after delivering five home runs in five games. His 10 runs in that stretch were tied for the second-most nationally and his 14 runs batted in were tied for third-most nationally. All nine of his hits went for extra bases, three more than any other player.

ASU’s series against Baylor will start at 6:35 p.m. for the first two games, followed by a 1:05 p.m. start on Sunday, April 26.

April 19

Softball at Houston, Cougar Softball Stadium, noon.

April 22

Baseball vs New Mexico State, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.

April 23

Women’s golf at Big 12 Championship, Dallas Athletic Club, TBA.

Track and field at Penn Relays, Franklin Field, 1:22 p.m.

Beach volleyball at Big 12 Championship, Bear Down Beach, all day.

April 24

Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.

Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 7 p.m.

April 25

Lacrosse at Colorado, Prentup Field, 11 a.m.

Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 3 p.m.

Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.

Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.

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