By SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press
A blast of late summer heat caused disruptions Wednesday for schools, with some districts dismissing students early and others holding classes online just days into the new academic year.
While temperatures weren’t as high as last month’s triple-digit deadly heat wave, schools in states including Michigan, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia cited inadequate air conditioning in cutting days short this week.
Late summer heat isn’t unusual. But temperatures at the start of the school year have been getting warmer for years.
For instance, Philadelphia’s expected high of 95 on Wednesday is 13 degrees higher than the normal high for the day, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. The holiday weekend also followed the hottest August scientists have ever recorded with modern equipment; scientists blame human-caused climate change.
The first week of school in Philadelphia this week saw early dismissals for dozens of schools “without air conditioning or inadequate cooling.” The district announced Wednesday that more than 80 schools would end classes early the rest of the week.
District spokeswoman Monique Braxton said many schools need upgraded electrical systems to support air conditioning.
“We’re in an old city,” she said. “Most of our buildings are old facilities. We’re making adjustments as necessary.”
Nationwide, an estimated 36,000 schools need to update or install HVAC systems, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report in 2020.
Health experts warn that exposure to excessive heat can cause dehydration or heat exhaustion, among other things, while teachers say sweltering classrooms make it difficult to do their jobs.
