Country Club Hills schools have heat restored as parents call for more transparency

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, Ill. (WLS) -- Cold temperatures are cause for concern at two suburban schools where they are dealing with heating issues.

School District 160 in County Club Hills said all classrooms in the district's three schools have heat after the district leaders said a small number of them were without heat earlier this week.

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But frustrated parents said they wanted this communication much earlier.

"They are not being transparent and they are not being honest," parent Sequoia Williams said.

"School is a safe haven for all children and if my baby is not safe being warm and educated, why am I sending her there?" parent LaTisha Heron said.

The outrage resulted in a small police presence Wednesday morning. Parents gathered to voice their anger and frustrations over what they call a lack of communication from leaders about whether two schools, Southwood Middle and Meadowview Intermediary, have enough heat for students to be in school.

"Playing ring around the Rosie with which rooms are warm enough for our children to be in," parent Carling Wilson said. "I kept him home yesterday just because I wasn't sure what was going on. I called the district office, their voicemail boxes are always full."

Police were called after parents tried to meet with the superintendent only to be locked out of the building.

All say, however, that there was no clear communication from the district clarifying if Southwood and Meadowview until they united their voices.

District 160 Superintendent Dr. Duane Meighan issued a statement late Wednesday morning writing in part. "a small number of classrooms" in two buildings were not within normal limits...the district has been "working with local HVAC contractors"...and "all classrooms" are at the required room temperature of "68 degrees or higher."
Parents said this communication is too late.

"It's really messing with their educations right now and that's not what we send our kids to school for," Wilson said.

After being locked out of the District 160 administrative offices, some parents said they were heading to pull their kids from school.