For the last two months, frustrated teachers, parents and students have been joining a private Facebook group called Cool Our Keiki to swap stories and brainstorm ways to mitigate the blistering heat in many of the state’s classrooms.

The group, which has more than 3,300 members, now hopes to focus additional attention on the issue by rallying in front of schools and the Department of Education headquarters Friday.

“It would be a very kind gesture if the DOE and state offices turn off their a/c beginning this Friday and bring in a fan to keep cool just as our kids and teachers have been required to do every day since July 29th,” Kim Matheny, an administrator of the Facebook group, said in a press release Wednesday. “I would ask them to continue in this manner until all schools in the state of Hawaii have proper a/c as well.”

As of Sept. 10, the DOE had purchased 145 portable air conditioners and had requested a procurement exemption to order up to 1,000 more. The DOE also issued heat guidelines Tuesday aimed at helping parents and teachers recognize and treat heat-related ailments.

The rallies will be held before and after school on Friday at an unknown number of schools.