advertisement

East St. Louis schools dismiss early after thefts

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Officials at four East St. Louis schools where thieves stole parts of air conditioners this month have sent students home early because of heat.

District 189 spokeswoman Beth Shepperd told the Belleville News-Democrat that more dismissals were possible. She says thieves stole copper and other parts from air conditioners at the four schools. That means the air conditioning isn't working.

So students were sent home Tuesday around 12:30 p.m. as the heat rose in classrooms. Outdoor temperatures in the area were in the 80s with high humidity.

Shepperd says the school will be watching temperatures and the heat index again Wednesday and the rest of the week with potential dismissals in mind.

She says the repairs will cost about $100,000.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.