Around the time children would have been dropped off at school today the temperature would have been just over 80 degrees on a breezy, cloudy morning with a chance of rain.
Instead, parents were scrambling to find child care after Winnetka Public Schools District 36 cancelled classes due to excessive “heat.”
Ordinarily schools would have remained in session. However, the district said in an announcement they were unable to “execute our typical heat relief measures” due to “COVID-19 risk mitigation.”
The move comes as education experts have urged schools to state in session to assure the continuity of education for young learners.
The state suffered criticism for allowing teacher unions to decide how COVID-19 is handled in schools.
“We are unable to use classroom fans or rotate classes through cool spaces,” the Winnetka Public Schools District 36 announcement said. “We also recognize that both students and staff are wearing masks. Please note, that although Washburne has air-conditioning, appropriate COVID-19 risk mitigation requires us to open the dampers to fresh air and open windows. Therefore, the heat impacts Washburne school as well.”
Winnetka Public Schools is comprised of Carleton Washburne School, Crow Island School, Greeley School, Hubbard Woods School and Skokie School.
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