Classes on Normal Schedule Tomorrow
Dear staff, students, and families,
As you might have already heard, high heat is in the forecast for tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday.
Given that tonight’s overnight low is forecasted to be in the 50s, we expect our buildings to be comfortable tomorrow. Therefore, classes will continue as scheduled tomorrow (Wednesday, September 4).
As a school district, we are committed to creating a healthy and safe learning environment for all staff and students, and we are taking several steps to mitigate the impact of heat in our schools.
These steps include:
In schools not equipped with air conditioning, school ventilation systems will operate from midnight to 6 a.m. nightly to help circulate as much cool air as possible.
Again, in schools that do not have AC, custodial staff will open all operable windows each morning (when and where it is safe to do so). All HVAC and portable HEPA units will continue to operate as programmed, adding to the regular air circulation in every learning space.
We will make use of portable fans to aid in air circulation.
Every school is equipped with a digital monitor that allows staff to measure the exact heat index in their building. (The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.) All principals have been instructed on additional steps to take when the heat index in their building hits certain thresholds. These include water breaks for students and staff and moving classes into cooler areas in the school.
Each school has ample access to water.
Since temperatures can vary widely across the city during heat waves, we will regularly consult with the National Weather Service and Multnomah County to track any potentially dangerous trends.
Athletics will follow OSAA guidelines when making decisions about practices and activities, and partners running childcare programs will use their discretion regarding a possible early release.
We are closely monitoring the forecast for Thursday and Friday, and we will update you tomorrow on our plans for those days.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jon Franco, Chief of Schools
Joe Crelier, Director of Risk Management