A Charged Removal of Teachers’ Appliances E
veryday appliances in classrooms have come in handy for teachers and students for years. Whether it’s perking a teacher up with a cup of warm coffee or giving students a place to refrigerate their lunches, teachers’ appliances were a simple solution to a simple problem. CRCSD’s revised energy conservation policy is putting an end to this. As of Jan. 1, 2022, teachers are no longer allowed to keep microwaves, coffee makers or mini-fridges in their classrooms. The policy also specifies fish tanks, box fans, space heaters, toasters, hot plates, cup warmers, popcorn poppers and aroma devices as other banned appliances. The news came as a shock to many teachers, who received the news on May 26, 2021 in an email about building updates. Access to personal appliances was something most teachers took for granted. Tearing that expectation away only denies them another source of respite from the stresses of the workday. One avid user of classroom appliances was math teacher Kathryn Hrubes, who kept a microwave and mini-fridge in her classroom. She used both during her lunch break. “Right now, I bring frozen dinners for lunch. I’ll probably just bring sandwiches from now on,” Hrubes said. “I like to heat up my coffee—it’s kind of a nice perk to have a microwave in here. And so, I don’t know what I’ll do there, because no thermos could keep coffee warm all day.” The solution proposed by the school district lies in new common spaces spread throughout schools. These spaces are outfitted with full-size fridges, microwaves and coffee makers for any teacher to use. Common areas are now the
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only places staff can access these appliances. Each school’s administration was respon-
sible for finding new spaces for teachers on a district-provided budget. Kennedy has two new spaces so far: one in the lower IMC and one in the main office, plus the original lounge on the first floor. The three spaces available are all located on the first floor close to the center of the building, leaving teachers on the south end and second floor of the school without nearby appliances. Kennedy administration has struggled to find suit-
