NDP leader Marit Stiles is calling on the provincial government to take immediate action to make schools safe and comfortable for students and staff during extreme heat.
She visited Prince Edward Public School in Windsor Wednesday, a 100-year old school that is without air conditioning.
Teachers at the school are bringing in their own fans and purchasing popsicles for their students to try and make it through the school day.
Stiles said the government needs to address repair backlogs in schools.
"They need to address this immediately. Provide emergency relief and treat it like the emergency it is and then come up with a plan to ensure that schools in Ontario have the air conditioning, have the cooling systems in place," said Stiles.
Local ETFO President Mario Spagnuolo said he has received a number of calls over the last week regarding working conditions in the schools. However, he said heat warnings are also a concern in the early fall.
"We're losing valuable time that these kids need to be educated in a very comfortable environment where they can learn and prosper. You can't do that when rooms are reaching 35 to 40 degrees plus the humidity," said Spagnuolo.
He indicated about 50 per cent of schools within the board are either without air conditioning or are only partially air conditioned.