18 July 2025
With increasingly hot summers making classrooms “stifling” and impacting student concentration, Anzac Park Public School is seeking community support to install air conditioning units throughout the school. The P&C-led initiative aims to create a more comfortable and conducive learning environment for students and staff.
Erin Byrne, the President of the school’s P&C, explained the urgent need for climate control. “I believe it was one of the last schools built before air conditioning became a mandatory feature,” she said, noting that while the initial design aimed for natural breezes and air flow, in reality the three story building still gets extremely hot. For example, due to safety, the window can only open a few centimeters.
The impact on students is significant. “It’s just really hard to concentrate,” Byrne stated. “We’ve had stories from kids repeatedly where they have to sort of have quiet time and lie down on the floor under the fans just to, you know, cool that body temperature.”
The estimated cost to air condition the entire school is approximately $150,000. Phase 1 of the project, focusing on one side of the building on Cammeray Avenue, is already underway, with the P&C having committed to funding this initial stage. This year, the P&C achieved tax-deductible status as a charity, allowing for donations from outside the school community.
While the school has approached the government for grants, it has proven challenging to secure funding for the significant amount required. Byrne said that the NSW government had an initiative supporting air conditioning in schools but it had received a huge number of applications and that Anzac Park didn’t meet the minimum temperature criterion. “We were half a degree off that,” she said.
State MP for Willoughby, Tim James, echoed the concerns, stating, “With increasingly hot summers, our classrooms become stifling, making it difficult for students to concentrate and for staff to teach effectively. But the school community, led by the P&C, have a plan to cool our school and help deliver better outcomes for our kids. By installing air conditioning units across the school we will create a comfortable and conducive learning environment for everyone, leading to improved focus and well-being.”
James urged families to make a tax-deductible donation. The MP noted that the principal and office staff have engaged with the Department of Education’s infrastructure team, with Phase 1 anticipated to be completed by summer 2025.
In previous years, the P&C suggested a contribution of $220 for families with one child or $350 for families with multiple children, though “no amount is too small or too big.”
The easiest way for the community to support the “Cool the School” initiative is by making a tax-deductible donation directly to the school. The P&C continues to run events, such as a recently sold-out trivia night and fundraisers on election days, but direct donations are currently the most effective way to contribute.
For more info or to help out, click here: https://www.mycause.com.au/page/371065/together-we-can-cool-our-school