Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda delivered air conditioning equipment to 145 elementary schools across Mexicali, the Valle de Mexicali, and San Felipe on May 7. The distribution includes more than 500 new two-ton mini-split units aimed at replacing aging cooling systems before summer temperatures hit their peak.
Irma Martínez Manríquez, head of the state’s Department of Education, said an initial investment of 10 million pesos (roughly $500,000 USD) from surplus funds covered the purchase and installation of 575 air conditioning units for the 145 schools. A separate budget of 15 million pesos (about $750,000 USD) has been allocated to acquire approximately 850 additional units.
Desert Heat Drives School Infrastructure Push
Mexicali is one of Mexico’s hottest cities, with summer temperatures routinely exceeding 120°F (49°C). Classrooms without functioning air conditioning can become dangerously hot during spring and summer months, putting students and teachers at risk. San Felipe, a coastal town about 120 miles south of Mexicali on the Sea of Cortez, faces similar extreme heat conditions.
The state government described the effort as a near-complete renewal of air conditioning systems across the majority of Mexicali-area elementary schools. The two-ton mini-split units being installed are standard commercial-grade systems suited for classroom-sized spaces.
Total Investment Tops 25 Million Pesos
Combined, the two phases of spending total roughly 25 million pesos (about $1.25 million USD) for more than 1,400 air conditioning units. The first batch of 575 units is already being installed across the 145 campuses, while the second round of 850 units is expected to follow.
Mexicali’s public school system serves tens of thousands of students across the city, its surrounding agricultural valley, and San Felipe. The capital city sits directly on the U.S. border, across from Calexico, California, and its metropolitan area has a population of roughly one million.
This story was first reported by Jornada BC.