Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
With temperatures expected to get close to 90 degrees later this week, some Philadelphia schools will dismiss early Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Fifty-two schools still lack air conditioning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Philadelphia region is experiencing higher-than-normal temperatures, and while the district has made significant progress toward ensuring our schools are adequately cooled to provide safe and comfortable learning environments, some schools still have inadequate cooling systems,\u201d deputy superintendent wrote in a letter sent to families Monday.<\/p>\n
The Philadelphia School District\u2019s extreme-weather protocol means that if temperatures are forecast to reach or exceed 85 degrees by noon, those schools dismiss early; if it hits 85 degrees by 9 a.m., the call is for remote learning.<\/p>\n
That means an unequal experience for students across the system, with students in some schools not missing any instructional time when it\u2019s hot, and those in a quarter of schools subject to interrupted schedules.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we know that in-person learning is the best environment for students, the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remains our top priority,\u201d Hill wrote. \u201cThank you for your flexibility and partnership. Please take care, stay cool, and stay safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The holdup in air-conditioning all district schools is not related to the cost of air-conditioning units, but rather upgrading old electrical systems in the 52 schools.<\/p>\n
Such upgrades are tricky. An HVAC project at Kensington High went awry this summer, triggering asbestos issues that forced students and staff to relocate for the rest of the calendar year.<\/a><\/p>\n School officials said in 2022 they aimed<\/a> to have all district schools fully air-conditioned by 2027. But on the cusp of that cutoff, that goal seems unlikely.<\/p>\n Which schools will dismiss early?<\/p>\n The 52 schools that will have a half day Tuesday are:<\/p>\n AMY Northwest<\/p>\n Bache-Martin<\/p>\n Blaine<\/p>\n Building 21<\/p>\n Catharine<\/p>\n Comegys<\/p>\n Comly<\/p>\n Cooke<\/p>\n Crossan<\/p>\n Disston<\/p>\n Dunbar<\/p>\n Emlen<\/p>\n Fell <\/p>\n Fox Chase<\/a><\/p>\n Girard<\/p>\n Harding<\/p>\n C.W. Henry<\/p>\n Hill-Freedman<\/p>\n Hopkinson<\/p>\n Houston<\/p>\n Howe<\/p>\n A.S. Jenks<\/p>\n J.S. Jenks<\/p>\n Lamberton<\/p>\n Lingelbach<\/p>\n Loesche<\/p>\n Ludlow<\/p>\n McCloskey<\/p>\n McClure<\/p>\n McMichael<\/p>\n Mitchell<\/p>\n J.H. Moore<\/p>\n MYA<\/p>\n Olney Elementary<\/p>\n Overbrook<\/a> Elementary<\/p>\n Parkway West<\/p>\n Patterson<\/p>\n Rhawnhurst<\/a><\/p>\n Rowen<\/p>\n Roxborough<\/a> High<\/p>\n Sayre High<\/p>\n Sharswood<\/p>\n Sheppard<\/p>\n