We’ve all walked through the halls of Ida B. Wells and seen water damage on ceilings, paint peeling off walls, broken lights and missing or damaged ceiling tiles. Maybe you walk into your first period class and get blasted with unbearable heat. At this point, many students don’t even notice it. We’ve become blind to the conditions of IBW and don’t notice the toll it takes on our learning.
A poor environment can decrease student focus and achievement. It also contributes to chronic absenteeism and dropout rates in schools. Messy classrooms can lead to anxiety and lower test scores. (UCAS.org)
“It gets really hot in some classrooms. It’s hard to learn when you’re, like, a million degrees and it just kind of makes you sad,” said Isabel Braun, a freshman at IBW. Since just after winter break, temperatures in two classrooms climbed to 100 degrees, according to Erica Caldwell, the business manager at IBW.
Lighting is one major factor for student learning. Natural light has been shown to increase grades by up to 25%. It can improve student and teacher focus as well as performance. On the contrary, fluorescent lighting can make students feel tired quickly, therefore decreasing academic performance and focus, according to UCAS.org and the Texas Association of School Boards.
Fluorescent lighting can induce migraines in students and bother student-athletes recovering from concussions. Working in darkness or partial darkness can help mitigate these issues. Studies have also shown that working in a dark classroom can boost memory retention.
Temperature has a major impact on both student and teacher performance. Students’ focus is greatly impacted, but so is their memory. Studies have shown that sustained high temperatures in schools lead to worsening test scores.
You would think that these are only issues for IBW during the summer, but problems with the HVAC system in the school have led to sustained high temperatures well into the winter in some classrooms. During the summer, since there is no air conditioning, temperatures become unbearable, especially in south-facing classrooms because of the sun on the windows.
Marrla Wilkinson, an English teacher at IBW, is concerned about the damage in the school. Her classroom gets unbearably hot in the fall, spring, and summer months, with temperatures even climbing to 95 degrees. Wilkinson said about her students working in the heat, “They complain. They can’t really function as well. They’re more sluggish. It causes a disruption, because then they say they want to go sit out in the hall, or they want to go sit out in the courtyard.”
The 70-year-old IBW building does have hope, as it’s getting remodeled in the coming years. “I look forward to having a modernized building that has fresh paint and architecture, and it feels good to come to because that’s going to be really positive for everyone’s mental health… that makes you feel respected and appreciated,” said Wilkinson. The new building will have many improvements, including air conditioning. “Ultimately, it’s going to make it manageable to hold a class during the warmer parts of the year.”
The remodel is also the reason our building is not getting any improvements. Portland Public Schools is currently working on modernizing the final three high schools: IBW, Cleveland, and Jefferson. Construction is planning to break ground on the building in January of 2027, and the school will open in the summer of 2029.
The modernized high school will have better functioning HVAC systems and won’t use hazardous materials such as asbestos or lead paint. The high school will feature spaces better able to support the CTE courses and athletics IBW offers, as well as a health center and areas for the community to hold meetings. The remodel will also have flexible learning areas, where teachers can choose to hold their class for a day, and an upgraded auditorium.
The remodel will also be better able to support the various CTE programs at our school. Ayesha Coning, the principal at IBW, is looking forward to the new building. “For me personally, it’s a dream come true to be a high school principal and to be able to help design a high school for our students and our community,” she said. “We’re designing a school with computer science in mind, with health occupations, engineering, yoga.”
For now, since no current students will attend the new school, students can just do their best to learn despite challenges. Bring layers for classes with varying temperatures, clean up after yourself to reduce messes, and talk to teachers if you need accommodations for migraines or concussions.
