Heat Islands and Food Deserts

Today is my birthday and it seemed like as good a day as any to launch this site.  As a public school administrator, my route to this role has been less typical but in most ways, it has been by design and desire.  What I’ve learned along the way is I usually have an answer to a question, it just might not always be the right one for a given circumstance.  This is where you, the reader, come in.  My goal for this blog is to present topics of interest (hopefully) and through audience participation extend the discussion.  And maybe this exchange will lead to a new “what if” or “why not” that makes this day more informed than those before it.

It’s hot in Texas!  We’re a week into September and still seeing 90 degrees outside.  Forecasters have already indicated the Lone Star State is on track for the second hottest summer on record, trailing only the record-breaking year of 2011.  But despite the heat, I have choice in how hot I choose to be.  The temperature in my house is set at 75 degrees and the master bedroom stays at 73 degrees, with fans no less.  I come to work early and leave late, all while in a comfortably cooled office.  On weekends the outdoor and leisure activities definitely change things but I like it that way.

I came across an article recently that suggested poor city neighborhoods are often much hotter than wealthy ones (The Washington Post, 09/02/2018).  Beyond the more obvious reason for this due to affordability of air conditioning, low-income areas are prone to “heat islands” which is a term used to represent communities with little vegetation and lots of concrete.  They lack greenery, public parks, adequate landscaping, and so forth.  These parts more often lack indoor respites like movie theaters and malls and share another phenomenon – food deserts.

After I read this article I went for a drive around town and randomly toured some of our schools.  I’ve always paid particular attention to a school system’s buildings and grounds because I believe it says a lot about an organization.  Neighborhood schools are just that, and we often discuss the bell-to-bell order schools provide to students in otherwise stressful circumstances.  Imagine if the school house not only was the source of social emotional comfort but also that much needed physical comfort we may not have recognized.  Certainly this year has offered new excitement as we welcomed kids back and even though there are many variables beyond our control, paying attention to the details is a responsibility we can all share.