GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — Grand Rapids Public Schools announced early dismissals on Thursday due to extreme heat.
Superintendent Dr. Leadriane Roby says the half days are due to the heat index temperatures reaching into the upper 90s.
“With the humidity and air temperatures in the forecast tomorrow, it will simply be too warm in some of our buildings as we move into the afternoon,” Dr. Roby said. “It’s a difficult call to make so early in the school year but when temperatures reach such high levels it raises a safety concern.”
Most GRPS schools do have air condition, but some are still without. As many families have students in multiple different schools, school leadership said it's best to let students out early.
"It was starting to toward the end of the day get warm in some of our buildings, some of our warmer classrooms. We're inching toward that 90 degree mark, we know that's a little bit too warm to be comfortable and much warmer than that presents a safety concern," said Leon Hendrix, Executive Director of Communications for GRPS.
Currently, five GRPS schools do not have air conditioning, including: Stocking, Aberdeen, Mulick, GR Montessori and Southeast Career Pathways. GR Montessori is expected to have air conditioning by October, and Kent Hills currently has partial A/C.
"It's this time of year and at the very end of the year where it gets a little bit tricky for our few buildings that don't have air conditioning. Luckily, the vast majority of our schools do have air conditioning in them," said Hendrix.
Hendrix also says that potential investments in the future can eliminate the threat of heat for students.
"There's going to be a bond question on the ballot that will mean a $305 million investment over the course of the next 10 years or so in our schools. And with that kind of investment, we're hopeful that we will have air conditioning for every building and we won't be in this position in the future."
In the meantime, he encourages students to stay hydrated, and to let staff know if they begin to feel unwell when temperatures are high.
All afternoon and evening activities in the school system are cancelled, as well. The district offices will remain open.
For a list of full half-day dismissal times, click here. Stay up-to-date on the forecast here.
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