As the school authority, the City of Mainz is responsible for school buildings and their facilities. The goal is to continuously improve the structural, technical, and infrastructural conditions at school sites and to work with school administrators to further develop site-specific heat protection measures.

“The increasing frequency of heat waves also poses challenges for our schools. In addition to long-term structural improvements to school buildings, the City of Mainz supports solutions that can be implemented in the short term and are tailored to the specific on-site conditions, so that quick and appropriate action can be taken in the event of acute heat stress,” explains Mayor Nino Haase. In addition, the state capital of Mainz is also investing heavily in air-conditioned buses and trams to protect students, according to Haase.

The city is working with schools to evaluate measures at school sites. These include, among other things, shading systems and sun-protective films on suitable buildings, as well as improvements to ventilation systems. 

Ata Delbasteh, Head of the School Department, emphasizes: “While protecting the health of students and staff is our top priority, there is no single measure that is equally suitable for all schools, in accordance with legal requirements. That is why we are focusing on location-specific solutions. In the short term, it is particularly effective to keep buildings as cool as possible at the start of the school day by consistently ventilating them at night after the end of school breaks.”

These measures are based on site-specific heat protection strategies developed by the City of Mainz in collaboration with school administrations, taking into account the specific architectural conditions of each location. The City of Mainz will continue to refine heat protection measures at its school sites and adapt them to the impacts of climate change.

Organizational measures for dealing with heat—such as closing schools, shortening class periods, holding classes in more suitable locations, or adjusting class schedules—fall under the responsibility of the respective school administration and can be implemented as appropriate within the framework of applicable state regulations.