Parents concerned over lack of A/C at after school program
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — An after school program has some parents upset after they learned the new building only has air conditioning in a closed off room.
News 4 received several emails sent with concerns about it.
"I go to pick him up that day and I realized there's no A/C. It's hot in there," said Brittany Jewett, a concerned parent.
The Summit Martial Arts is a gym that also has an after school program for kids.
Jewett said her child has been part of the program for two years.
In June, The Summit moved locations to a spot with no air conditioning in the main part of the gym.
"While it was air conditioned on the inside what everybody doesn't know is there was only one working air conditioning in that building and it filled 11,000 square feet. That doesn't work for anybody," said Dominique Jackson, with The Summit Martial Arts.
Their new spot is a bigger warehouse and the owners said it's still a work in progress, but it is an opportunity for them to build what they want.
"Warehouse style gyms like this, there typically isn't an air conditioning is typically more of the fans and things like that," said Jackson.
However, the lack of air conditioning over gym mats has parents concerned.
"They said there is one room that has air conditioning. It does not fit all the kids, so they rotate them out," said Jewett.
News 4 got a tour of that room.
"We've got the two window units here that are each rated for 550 square feet, we're in a 750 square foot room. So that keeps it cool and then anytime it warms up, that door gets popped open and that swamp cooler gets turned on as well," said Jackson on the tour.
Jewett said the colder room isn't enough.
"Everyone knows that it's incredibly hot in august in Oklahoma. And so I don't know why they felt that was acceptable to put these children in that environment," said Jewett.
On the gym mats, there's multiple fans and cooling systems around, but no A/C.
While there is a water station, News 4 asked the owner if there are plans to add A/C above the mats where kids are playing.
"But the mats....steamers, both of them super hot no matter what you were doing. So you put fans, you put cool you things, but you don't put cold air dedicated to blowing directly on top of people because then they just get sick," said Jackson.
Parents received an email earlier this week explaining how the gym is working to keep kids cool.
"I think their email was trying to tell us there is no plan to get central ac in this place," said Jewett.
Which still has parents concerned.
"I don't want to break the contract and deal with the whole cancellation fees. We want him to be in an environment that stays that is healthy for him," said Jewett.
Jackson said they're willing to work with parents if they do have issues of the gym being too hot and will not charge a cancellation fee.
Since News 4 talked with Jewett, she let us know she pulled her child out of the program and the gym waived the fee.
Another woman who emailed News 4 said while she did not get any deposits refunded or the two weeks she paid, she received an email Wednesday night that said her cancellation fee is waived.