Chicago officials put fans in classrooms

Associated Press

Chicago Public School officials say they’re making 1,500 fans available to schools that aren’t air-conditioned and asking teachers to take additional precautions as a heat wave settles over the city.

CPS spokeswoman Marielle Sainvilus said Monday that CPS was trying to determine how many children are scheduled to attend summer school this week. She says there were 75,000 at the beginning of the summer, but many of those programs have ended.

She says 16 percent of the district’s schools aren’t air-conditioned. Teachers are being asked to keep blinds closed, move to cooler rooms and ensure students have water.

Sainvilus says the district won’t cancel classes due to the heat because many students don’t have air conditioning at home, and because schools will provide proper nutrition and a safe environment.