Dist. 204 cancels Wednesday classes in schools without AC
Schools without air conditioning in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 will be closed Wednesday for the second day in a row, district officials announced Tuesday.
The closure means classes at Indian Plains alternative high school and 19 elementary schools in the district that serves parts of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield will not be held Wednesday.
“The temperatures experienced today, with little relief expected tonight, will not allow our buildings to sufficiently cool down in time to handle tomorrow’s anticipated high temperatures,” the district said in an email newsletter.
Elementary schools where classes are canceled for Wednesday include Brookdale, Brooks, Builta, Clow, Cowlishaw, Fry, Georgetown, Gombert, Graham, Kendall, Longwood, McCarty, Patterson, Spring Brook, Steck, Watts, Welch, White Eagle and Young.
Curriculum nights slated to be held Wednesday in schools without air conditioning also will be rescheduled, district officials said.
The YMCA will continue offering a supervised daytime program for elementary students whose parents need child care from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Y Sports Complex at 31W290 Shoger Road in Naperville. The program costs $40 for each child and there is no need to preregister. For details, call (630) 585-2207.
District 204 is forming a committee to study its “heat plan” for excessively hot days and find solutions to keep students, teachers and staff members cool, safe and able to learn, Superintendent Kathy Birkett said Monday.
Parents and teachers speaking at a school board meeting Monday night, such as parent Scott Simon, asked the district to investigate portable or window unit air conditioners and begin setting aside funds to install “full and proper” air conditioning in all schools.
“I don’t ask this to increase the comfort of my kids while they’re at school,” Simon said. “I ask this to increase their safety.”