As winter approaches Archbishop Riordan High School, the newly fixed heaters are now being put to the test, transforming classrooms that had unbalanced temperatures into warm and comfortable learning spaces.
The school experienced issues with the heating system last year, but these were fixed over the summer.
Brandon Ramsey, Director of Facilities, stated that the previous heater had “incomplete data, uninsulated pipes [creating] a loss of heat, and bad or old valves [that] were not functioning properly.”
The pipes were insulated and new valves were added to each room with a thermostat to receive better data. The temperature was also raised, so classes that were previously chilly now receive more heat.
Ramsey is confident that the new heaters are equipped to handle the winter months but will gather more data over the next months to see where they can improve.
AP Statistics teacher, Van Whipple, is conducting a project where his students gather data on the heaters in each classroom to identify inconsistencies in room temperatures, to potentially influence heating system improvements within the school.
Whipple said, “It’s an idea that tries to make the class more practical and is based on something that we care about.”
He raised the question of what factors contribute to the heating system. “Is it caused by the heaters or because some teachers leave some windows open or closed? We’re trying to figure out what the answer is.”
His students measured the temperature in each class, as well as if windows and doors were open or closed, and if the blinds were up or down. All of these factors are variables to consider.
He elaborated, “I’m going to combine the data from the classes and see if there are differences between the classes or between the time of day. If we’re not seeing any differences, then that tells us that the system may not be working.”
He concluded, “The goal is that by the end of the year, we can go to the admin and say, ‘Here is what each room temperature is like, what it looks like throughout the school’ and use that to help fix the system.”
Some have noticed the difference, and others have not.
English teacher Michael Vezzali- Pascual ’88, whose classroom is on the second floor, said, “In the morning, it’s cold in my room, so I have not noticed a significant change.”
On the contrary, Camille Brown ’25 said, “I have noticed the heating system has been fixed. Walking around campus is way warmer than before.”
