Concerns over long hot lines for Baltimore School tech pick up

COVID-19 is having a trickle down effect on so many things, and the heat just adds one more problem.

The hot summer days are making the free device pick ups for families in the Baltimore City School District more difficult.

DOWN EFFECT ON SO MANYTHINGS...LIKE FREE DEVICE PICKUPS FOR FAMILIES IN THBALTIMORE CITY SCHOOLDISTRICT.

A LOCAL HEALTHADVOCATE WAS OUT AT SCHOOLHEADQUARTERS THURSDAY AND WASAPPALLED THAT PEOPLE WERESTANDING IN LINE FOR HOURS INTHE HEAT.

WMAR2 NEWSKADHIM IS AT BALTIMORE CITYSCHOOL HEADQUARTERS TONIGHT&THETOMORROW MORNING?A SPOKESPERSON FOR THEDISTRICT JUST GOT BACK TO USSAYING THEY ARE LOOKING INTOWAYS TO GET MORE FAMILIES INTHE SPACES INSIDE HERE THATHAVE AC.

ADDING THEY WILL HAVEWATER AVAILABLE AND THEY AREDEVELOPING A SCREENING PROCESSFOR PEOPLE IN LINE TO HELPSPEED UP THE DEVICE ASSIGNMENPROCESS.The digital divide IS A HUGHURDLE IN ENSURING a qualityeducation for Baltimore City'syoung people.

Erica HamlettCommunity Health Worker9:5━10:00“The fact thatfamilies are in need is notthe biggest issue.

The way youassist them when they are inneed.

The way you treat peoplewhen they are in need speaksto you and to them” Theschool district is providinglaptops and tablets forstudents as they prepare tostart out the year VIRTUALLY.Last week they sent out thisflYer inviting families topick up devices.

Erica Hamlettrecorded this video onThursday when the city wasunder a heat advisory.

Shesays the line was long and itwas so hot she left to buy 3cases of water to give topeople waiting.

2:5━3:15“Youwere requiring familiesstand outside in the heat andyou didnshould provide tents or waterfor these people.

You didnmake any provisions beforehandto let them know exactly howthis was going to work.

Theflyer didnabout standing outside.

Peoplewere assuming they were goingto be coming in the buildingpicking up the devices andleaving” A spokesperson forthe the school district gotback to Hamlett on Fridasaying they will address herconcerns.

2:0━2:11“There wassome elderly people, there wassome pregnant women.

They wereholding their place lettingthem go and sit on the walland standing in line forthem” In the meantime shefrustrated and also wantsclarity on why the event endedat 2 when it was supposed toend at 6.

7:4━8;01“It is hotoutside it is July.

Somepeople have to bring theirchildren.

Some people aredisabled.

Some peopleguardians are disabled and Inot shocked but itstill disgusting”WE REACHED OUT TO ASPOKESPERSON FROM THE TONIGHTTO SEE IF THERE WILL BEANYTHING PUT IN PLACE TOCOMBAT THE HEAT HERE TOMORROW&WEHAMLETT PLANS ON BEING OUTHERE TOMORROW TO SEE WHATCHANGES ARE MADE.

WE WILLCONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORYAS IT DEVELOPS.

LIVE ATBALTIMORE CITY SCHOOLHEADQUARTERS EDDIE KADHIMWMAR2 NEWSNEW TONIGHT..

POLI