Jim Thorpe Area School District officials said Wednesday night they are continuing to monitor heating systems and fluctuating classroom temperatures at the Penn Kidder Campus.

One particularly problematic boiler, Building and Grounds Director Charlie Dresher said, has required extensive troubleshooting. Dresher explained that specialists have been brought in to diagnose and address the underlying issues.

“This is above and beyond what we typically expect from our maintenance staff,” Dresher said. “We’re hopeful that these final repairs will stabilize the system,” he added.

In the meantime, the district has implemented temporary measures to mitigate the impact on students and staff. When classroom temperatures fall below acceptable levels, Assistant Penn Kidder Principal Sara Mass said, students are relocated to warmer areas. One kindergarten class was moved to a different part of the building earlier this week.

“If it’s colder than I think it needs to be, we move them,” Mass said.

In one of the classrooms, the district is waiting on a blower motor control module to address the heating issue.

Classrooms located on the outer edges of the building have been particularly challenging to keep warm. These rooms, often exposed to multiple exterior walls and positioned on the windward side, Dresher said, experience more significant temperature fluctuations due to their vulnerability to outside weather conditions.

Administrators said they have also been proactive in communicating with parents about the situation.

Mass reported that she has spoken with many parents concerned about their children’s comfort and safety.

“I’ve reassured them that we’re doing everything possible to address the issues,” she said. “I encouraged parents to dress their children in extra layers as a precautionary measure.

The district’s heating systems are monitored using a centralized program that tracks temperatures in individual classrooms. Dresher noted that the program alerts staff when rooms fall below 68 degrees, enabling maintenance teams to respond quickly. There are plans, he added, for a districtwide calibration of thermostats during the summer.

“We’ll ensure the system is accurate to within one degree,” Dresher said.