Heat goes out at Austin elementary school

Austin Independent School District rushed heaters to Cowan Elementary School Wednesday after the boiler went out on campus. About a third of the heaters are working now. 

Maintenance staff is working to bring the heat back to all of the classrooms, which would be a big comfort to parents. 

On a frigid day that broke records for winter power usage Cowan Elementary operated without a heating system. Staff sent an email to parents informing them that the boiler stopped working.

At noon the school sign flashed a temperature of 29. 

"I first I was really mad. I was like why are we having school today if there's no heaters," said parent Ruthie Ontiveros.

Ontiveros and other parents say they felt better knowing staff brought in heaters to keep the kids warm. Classes were also doubled up so that all could be in heated rooms.

"It did give me comfort in knowing that all of the body heat in there it wouldn't be as big of a deal," said Ontiveros.

"I'm glad that they said they were going to have the heaters," parent Alma Sanford.

The district shared this statement with FOX 7:

"I definitely want the best for my kids so if she is cold throughout the day then that's really hard for me to think that she's in a cold building," said Ontiveros.

The district says more heaters will be brought in Wednesday afternoon to insure that all classrooms will have a heater Thursday until that boiler is repaired.