State Comptroller Peter Franchot has become one of the most vocal supporters for parents seeking air conditioning in all Baltimore Count Schools.

Franchot recently highlighted conditions at Middleborough Elementary School in Essex. Parents from the school attended the state Board of Public Works meeting when Baltimore County school officials asked for $7 million in school renovation funding. None of those funds were targeted for air conditioning.

Parents at Middleborough have even suggested they would be willing to raise money to purchase window units for classrooms. County school officials rejected that proposal, before Michael Sines, executive director of the school system's department of physical facilities, suggested the school community could raise the $1.6 million necessary to pay for central air conditioning at the school.

Franchot and Alan Southworth, a parent of a Middleborough Elementary student, recently made their case for air conditioning again outside Boulevard Diner in Dundalk, where the comptroller spoke to a group of residents during a ceremony honoring the owner of the restaurant, Sam Tsakiris and his son, Marc,.

Assistant Regional Editor Bryan P. Sears contributed to this story.