When it's hot, schools gauge discomfort when deciding to dismiss class and activities

August 30, 2013|By Denys Bucksten, Special to the Tribune

Entering the Labor Day Weekend with cooler temperatures and no classes until Tuesday morning, Deerfield and Highland Park school officials can relax from non-stop efforts to protect students from extremely muggy conditions in the classroom.

One measure some officials used to gauge classroom discomfort was a temperature/humitidy index of 100. At that mark students at Highland Park and Deerfield high schools were sent home from school, said Melinda Vajdic, District 113 communications director.

In an Aug. 27 email to parents, District 113 officials said that children would be let out early at the two campuses, on staggered, midday schedules, with bus schedules coordinated for rides home, and all after-school activities canceled.

Vajdic said Superintendent George Fornero makes the call on letting school out early. The only air-conditioned regions at the high schools are Highland Park's B wing and library, and at Deerfield, the science and math "X-wing", and the library.

"We know it does involve some inconvenience for people," said Vajdic. "Some parents are definitely on board when we let school out for heat reasons and some think 'Do we really need to let them out.'

"People are on both sides of the issue; that's the situation no matter what," Vajdic added. "But (a heat/humidity mark of) 100 is a dangerous number and we're not going to take any chances."

In extreme heat Vajdic said parents are expected to help children dress appropriately, per school dress codes, and to maintain fluids.

North Shore Public Schools in Highland Park, District 112, decided on Aug. 29 to let classes out early on Aug. 30, due to extreme heat and humidity, at all schools — except Oak Terrace Elementary School and the Green Bay Early Childhood Center, which have air conditioning. Most of the district schools were built before 1961, when air conditioning was not standard.

Prior to reaching a critical point during a mostly muggy week of school, North Shore students were rotated to cooler parts of the buildings, officials told parents in an Aug. 29 email. All school-sponsored after-school activities were canceled on Aug. 30 in District 112.

In Deerfield Public Schools District 109, which had air conditioned several of its buildings at the start of the school year, with the intention of air conditioning all classroom space, fewer classes were canceled.

Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld said "We are fortunate that, on these hot days, we can ensure that all of our students are able to learn in a comfortable, safe and healthy environment.

"The staff at all of our schools, and the District Center, came together in an incredible way to arrange transportation, schedules and space to support that learning and do what's best for children. We look forward to next year, when all instructional space throughout the District will be air conditioned."