HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Temperatures have been rising across the Commonwealth, but schools without air conditioning are letting kids out early.
As schools have started back up for the year, some school districts have made executive decisions to dismiss students early or move to remote learning due to the heat. Hollidaysburg Area School District took action after measuring temperatures in some of their buildings.
“We were taking temperatures in the third floors of the junior high and the upper floors of the elementary schools,” Curt Whitesel, the superintendent of Hollidaysburg Area School District said. “They were continuing to increase. We knew at that point it was probably wise to send [the students] home.”
Penn State Athletics receives $10M donation for Beaver Stadium Over the past two days, students have gotten out of school early on Tuesday and Wednesday. The high school was the first to let out early at 12:30 p.m., followed by the Junior High school ten minutes later and then elementary schools at 1:30 p.m.
Other school districts, like Southern Huntingdon School District, have had some of their elementary schools move to remote learning during the heat wave.
Some buildings in the school district have been operating without any central air conditioning, with the high school being the exception. Instead of leaving the high schoolers to finish a full day, the district allowed them to head home early.
“To not send the high school would result in having two bus runs,” Whitesel said. “Taking everyone home and then coming back and running the high school, which creates an even bigger expense.”
Parents have asked why air conditioning has not been installed in these buildings.
“I wouldn’t want to be out in the heat,” Steve Patterson, a grandparent to a student at Charles W. Longer Elementary School said. “And I wouldn’t expect the children to be there in the heat. It’s hard enough to pay attention in school and everything like that, let alone being hot.”
“Something is going to have to be done so that schedules don’t have to be disrupted and ultimately so that kids can stay in school all day long,” Laura Bell, a parent in line to pick up her child said.
Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters .
Right now, the school district is in the works to install air conditioning units in all five buildings. The plan is in the early stages of development.
“We are currently in the process of completing a feasibility study with our architects,” Whitesel said. “Looking at all options throughout the district and every one of our buildings and moving forward to see what’s best for Hollidaysburg Area School District.”
With the idea uncertain for installation, the school district continues to monitor the weather and adjust accordingly. With the autumn season around the corner, administrators look to breathe some fresh air until the winter season.
“We’re inching our way closer to fall, when the weather will be much more conducive to being in a classroom,” Whitesel said.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
Local News
