Teacher suffers medical emergency at Twin Towers Middle School during hot weather
District says temperatures were within normal range as concerns over classroom heat surface across the Hudson Valley.
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A staff member suffered a medical emergency on Wednesday at Twin Towers Middle School in Middletown during a stretch of extreme heat that has prompted concerns about classroom temperatures in schools across the Hudson Valley.
News 12 received an anonymous tip alleging a teacher passed out from heat exhaustion during the school day. The district has not confirmed the cause of the medical emergency and cited employee privacy concerns.
“Our priority is the health and well-being of our school community. Out of respect for the privacy of staff, we do not comment or share personal medical information or diagnoses,” Superintendent Amy Creeden said in a statement.
Creeden said emergency protocols were immediately followed and the staff member received prompt care.
The incident comes as News 12 has received several anonymous complaints from teachers in multiple districts about classroom temperatures in recent weeks due to the heat.
New York’s new classroom heat law took effect this school year. It requires districts to take steps to reduce heat-related discomfort when classroom temperatures reach 82 degrees. Classroom and support service spaces may not exceed 88 degrees, and districts must have plans in place to relocate students and staff when temperatures reach that threshold, where practical.
However, the Middletown City School District says indoor temperatures and humidity levels at Twin Towers Middle School remained within normal parameters throughout the day on Wednesday.
“We take building conditions seriously. We have a cooling plan in place,” Creeden said.
According to the district, air-conditioned locations are available to educators and staff, bottled water is provided at no charge and fruit ice pops are available as part of the district’s cooling plan.
A parent told News 12 the district sent families an email about the incident. A student also told News 12 that children have been spending more time in the school's air-conditioned gym during this week's heat.
The district did not provide additional details about the employee’s condition.
