52 Philly schools will dismiss early Tuesday because of predicted heat
With temperatures predicted to hit close to 90 degrees Tuesday, 52 Philadelphia schools will dismiss early because of lack of air conditioning.
With temperatures expected to get close to 90 degrees later this week, some Philadelphia schools will dismiss early Tuesday.
Fifty-two schools still lack air conditioning.
“The Philadelphia region is experiencing higher-than-normal temperatures, and while the district has made significant progress toward ensuring our schools are adequately cooled to provide safe and comfortable learning environments, some schools still have inadequate cooling systems,” deputy superintendent wrote in a letter sent to families Monday.
The Philadelphia School District’s extreme-weather protocol means that if temperatures are forecast to reach or exceed 85 degrees by noon, those schools dismiss early; if it hits 85 degrees by 9 a.m., the call is for remote learning.
That means an unequal experience for students across the system, with students in some schools not missing any instructional time when it’s hot, and those in a quarter of schools subject to interrupted schedules.
“While we know that in-person learning is the best environment for students, the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remains our top priority,” Hill wrote. “Thank you for your flexibility and partnership. Please take care, stay cool, and stay safe.”
The holdup in air-conditioning all district schools is not related to the cost of air-conditioning units, but rather upgrading old electrical systems in the 52 schools.
Such upgrades are tricky. An HVAC project at Kensington High went awry this summer, triggering asbestos issues that forced students and staff to relocate for the rest of the calendar year.
School officials said in 2022 they aimed to have all district schools fully air-conditioned by 2027. But on the cusp of that cutoff, that goal seems unlikely.
Which schools will dismiss early?
The 52 schools that will have a half day Tuesday are:
AMY Northwest
Bache-Martin
Blaine
Building 21
Catharine
Comegys
Comly
Cooke
Crossan
Disston
Dunbar
Emlen
Fell
Girard
Harding
C.W. Henry
Hill-Freedman
Hopkinson
Houston
Howe
A.S. Jenks
J.S. Jenks
Lamberton
Lingelbach
Loesche
Ludlow
McCloskey
McClure
McMichael
Mitchell
J.H. Moore
MYA
Olney Elementary
Overbrook Elementary
Parkway West
Patterson
Rowen
Roxborough High
Sayre High
Sharswood
Sheppard
South Philadelphia High
Spruance
Sullivan
Tilden
The U School
Wagner
Martha Washington
