Excessive Heat Plan

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are monitoring the weather forecast for this week, which indicates heat indices well above 100 degrees for Monday afternoon and Tuesday. A Lincoln School message will be sent from Principal O’Brien this afternoon.

As a District, we are taking several proactive steps in anticipation of the excessive heat:

• Limiting outdoor activities and remaining inside for recess, physical education classes, and any after-school activities

• Encouraging students and staff to stay well-hydrated

• Ensuring bus windows are open to maximize airflow and ventilation, as our K-8 buses do not have air conditioning

• Monitoring children and staff for heat-related illnesses, being mindful of those with medical conditions who may be more sensitive

• Air conditioning will stay on throughout the evening and early morning hours, rather than being turned off overnight as is typically done.

We are asking our families to support our planning efforts in the following ways:

1. Please send your child(ren) to school with a refillable water bottle to encourage hydration. Students taking the bus home will fill their water bottles before boarding the bus (our K-8 buses are not air-conditioned).

2. Please ensure your child(ren) wears lightweight, loose clothing.

3. If your schedule permits, we encourage you to pick your child(ren) up from school on Monday and Tuesday. Our goal is to reduce the duration of our afternoon bus routes when temperatures are highest. Please contact the school office(s) prior to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 26 if you can provide transportation home. This timing is critical to ensure we can safely account for all students.

4. If you need to pick your child up early for an appointment, please do so by 1:30 p.m. (K-5) or by 1:00 p.m. (middle school). The office staff is needed to support our dismissal procedures after this time.

K-5 STUDENTS

K-5 students who are being picked up will begin to be released to parents starting at 3:10 p.m. This should improve traffic congestion, allowing our buses to leave closer to the typical time. We will hold our bus riders in the cool building until the buses are ready to depart. Due to this shift in protocols, it is expected that afternoon buses will be running late. Bus riders will remain in air-conditioned spaces until campus traffic is cleared, so we can swiftly board the buses and get them on their way.

The safety of our students, staff, and families remains our top priority. Thank you for your partnership in helping us take the proper precautions for contending with this week’s weather.

Sincerely,

Trisha Kocanda

Superintendent of Schools

Address: 28855 North Fremont Center Road, Mundelein, IL

Phone: (847) 566-0169

Website: fsd79.org

Twitter: @FSD79

Instagram: @FSD79

YouTube: youtube.com/FSD79