The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) board approved an emergency resolution Thursday, Sept. 3, to fast-track HVAC repairs at Samohi after classrooms hit 80 degrees.

Teachers and union representatives told the board that students and staff endured 80-degree classroom temperatures during a heat wave, according to a summary published by Santa Monica Next. The resolution gives district staff authority to accelerate the repair process at Santa Monica High School and other campuses. The district has not publicly identified which other schools are affected or set a timeline for completing the work.

The board also approved a $5.87 million construction contract amendment for the Samohi Student Services Building at the same meeting. The project, which was scheduled to begin June 12 with site preparation, replaces the former Business Building at the center of campus.

The new building will house counseling, health and wellness support, the College and Career Center and the Vikes Inn Student Store. It will also include a flexible "black box" theatre with dedicated backstage spaces, a new art gallery and an arts plaza alongside Barnum Hall. The district expects the building to open in August 2028.

Because the building sits in the center of campus rather than along its edges, the district has said construction presents unique logistical challenges compared with previous projects.

The original contract amount before the $5.87 million amendment has not been disclosed publicly. The Santa Monica Next summary, which was generated from a meeting transcription, did not include vote counts for either action.

The Sept. 3 meeting also included adoption of a National Hispanic Latino Heritage Month resolution and a presentation on academic progress at John Adams Middle School. Board President Alicia Mignano presided over the meeting, which was led by Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton's administration.

No follow-up meeting date for the HVAC repairs has been announced.