Four Millikan teachers assigned to the English Language Arts building spoke with the Long Beach Post and requested they not be named over fears of retaliation. They voiced frustration that they were placed \u201cback in these classrooms obviously way too early,\u201d one said, citing the lack of adequate cooling in particular.<\/p>\n
Teachers told the Post that they measured classroom temperatures in the 90s earlier in March, which they said affects student behavior. \u201cKids want to sleep because they\u2019re tired, they\u2019re hot,\u201d one teacher said. \u201cThey\u2019re checked out, heads down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Classrooms recently received water coolers to mitigate the heat, but it wasn\u2019t enough to keep students cool, said teachers, many of whom have purchased their own fans. One teacher said she bought eight; at a recent open house, when outdoor temperatures reached a high of 91 degrees, she had five running at once. Also at the open house, parents of Millikan students remarked on the temperature and questioned the point of all the construction if the classrooms were still blistering.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the district said the HVAC system has been fully installed and will be up and running once Southern California Edison completes the final step of providing permanent power to the campus, work that is scheduled to be completed over the district\u2019s spring break in April. The building \u201cis safe for instruction,\u201d the LBUSD spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775082909_457_new-millikan-building-2-img-4040-071912-cnmwqfwr-971084-h6sTg6OH-1024x621.jpg\")
A box fan in the window of the newly renovated 2000 Building at Millikan High School in Long Beach. Photo by Kate Raphael.<\/p>\n
Teachers said they\u2019re concerned that even once the HVAC is working the building will not be well insulated because the old single-pane windows were not replaced.<\/p>\n
They remain frustrated about other aspects of the renovation, too. The new building currently has no elevator. The LBUSD spokesperson said the first floor is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that the elevator installation was intentionally sequenced later to allow continued access for ongoing work. One teacher said students on crutches or with accessibility needs who have classes on the upper floor must go to the library to take their classes. \u201cThe school has been, and will continue accommodating ADA needs,\u201d an LBUSD spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
A district spokesperson said this and other modernization projects focus on fire and life safety, accessibility and structural integrity. Other improvements are considered \u201cnice-to-have\u201d items and are completed based on available funding and project scope, she said. As a result, some items like lockers and older equipment remain in place if they do not pose safety or compliance issues.<\/p>\n
Some teachers praised the new technology upgrades, including mounted projectors and speakers built into the ceiling. \u201cThis is the first time in 20 years I haven\u2019t had extension cords running in every direction,\u201d one teacher said.<\/p>\n
Yet teachers also surfaced complaints about cosmetic issues and unfinished projects: mismatched tiles, holes in the walls and ceilings, vestigial heaters filled with snack wrappers and trash, closet doors that won\u2019t latch and a film of construction dust coating surfaces throughout the building.<\/p>\n