As the temperatures rose Tuesday afternoon, some local school districts decided to let students go home early so they could escape the heat.
SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP, OH (WLIO) - As the temperatures rose Tuesday afternoon, some local school districts decided to let students go home early so they could escape the heat.
It was the high heat and humidity that Shawnee School District decided to dismiss early this afternoon.
It was the high heat and humidity that Shawnee School District decided to dismiss early this afternoon. The students are encouraged to bring in water bottles and get water throughout days like today. However, the buildings in the district are fairly old, and only some of the rooms have temporary air conditioning.
Superintendent Don Diglia says they take the decision seriously because it not only affects the students but the parents too. But the health of the students is the district's number one concern.
Bath and Celina High and middle schools were also released early today because of the heat.
"There comes a point where you don't want to take chances with kids getting sick or staff getting sick," says Superintendent Don Diglia. "And there also becomes a point when learning really can't take place because it's so hot."
The concerns about the students' safety extend to the after-school activities too.
"Ohio High School Athletic Association has put out guidelines that we follow. For example, we have rescheduled a middle school football game that was scheduled for tonight and moved it to Saturday. We have adjusted practices; we have limited times and the amount of practice for football. We limit the use of wearing pads and just helmets. Just common-sense things to keep the safety of our kids a priority," adds Diglia.
Diglia hopes that the district will be able to get some new buildings with air conditioning in the future. Bath and Celina High and middle schools were also released early today because of the heat.
