CORNWALL, N.Y. — With hot and humid temperatures forecast in New York next week, some state officials are looking forward to new legislation aimed at protecting students and teachers. 

State Sen. James Skoufis, of the Hudson Valley, said he has been advocating for climate-controlled classrooms for more than seven years. 

Since Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation to require all school districts minimize extreme temperatures in classrooms in December, Skoufis said he's looking forward to the upcoming school year when it will go into effect.

“Of the seven or eight buildings, school buildings with classrooms in the school district when I was going to school, there were only one — the high school — had air conditioning," Skoufis said. "Now, literally 20 years later, still only that one has air conditioning.”

The new law establishes 88 degrees as the maximum temperature in classrooms and support service spaces. In addition, school districts are also mandated to take action once classroom temperatures reach 82 degrees.

Skoufis said the goal is to put the safety of students and staff first.

“We leave it up to them," Skoufis said. "Whether that’s bringing in fans, whether it’s turning on AC...whether it’s closing the blinds, turning off the lights, they have to take some kind of action to at least attempt to close the space."

Lisa Piore is a school nurse at Cornwall Elementary School. She said while her school has air conditioning in every room and the cafeteria, heat can be extremely dangerous.

“Their little bodies can't take extreme heat," Piore said. "We follow protocol. If it’s very very hot, they stay in a very shaded area under trees or a shelter or inside for the day.”

Spectrum News 1 reached out to District Superintendent and CEO of Ulster Boces, Jonah Schenker, for comment on the matter. 

Schenker said the new law will require some changes for many districts across the state.

“There are going to be a number of school districts that are not going to have an issue," Schenker said. "[However], there will be a number of school districts that will have to consider how they are building into their capital projects, accommodations to ensure that we can meet these standards."