For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Melrose Public Schools Provide Heat Advisory Guidelines

MELROSE — Superintendent Cyndy Taymore seeks to inform families about key guidelines that have been put in place to ensure students, faculty and staff remain safe during the hot and humid weather this week.

The first day of school for students is tomorrow, Aug. 29. With temperatures predicted to be in the high 90s today and tomorrow, and near 90 degrees on Thursday, several heat-related precautions are being taken at all Melrose Public Schools facilities.

All or most of the classrooms and commons spaces at Melrose High School, Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School, the Roosevelt School and the Lincoln School are air conditioned.

The Horace Mann School’s art room and library are air conditioned, and the Franklin School has window units in some basement and first floor classrooms. Modular classrooms in the Hoover School and Winthrop School are equipped with air conditioning. The Horace Mann, Hoover and Winthrop schools, along with the Franklin School will also have fans placed throughout the buildings.

Prior to the start of school on Wednesday, buildings will be pre-cooled in the early morning hours. Faculty and staff will close the shades and curtains in the morning on south-facing windows, turn off lights if possible and keep air flow consistent through the use of fans.

Temperatures will be monitored by facilities staff throughout the day. Historically, the prudent and efficient use of sunlight blocking techniques, air movement and early use of air conditioning has proven effective at ensuring safe working temperatures in the school buildings.

“Parents should rest assured that the district has protocols in place to best ensure a smooth transition into the start of the new school year, despite the heat,” Superintendent Taymore said. “As always, parents should evaluate the weather, our guidelines and the needs of their children and make the decision they feel is best with regards to school attendance on these hot days. However, we have a good plan in place that has worked in the past at managing the buildings during very hot days and very cold days.”

During extreme weather conditions (hot or cold), each school is responsible for determining the criteria for proceeding with outdoor activities on a day-to-day basis.

• Principals and teachers will make the decision to move classroom instruction and activities to cooler parts of the building, if needed. Students who express discomfort from the heat will be moved to cooler parts of the building.
• When the temperature index (“feels like” temperature based on weather.com) reaches 95 degrees or above, principals should reconsider outside recess and provide for safe indoor activities.
• Teachers should encourage students to have regular water consumption throughout the day, especially prior to, during and following recess. Any student who shows signs of overheating should immediately be accompanied to the nurse’s office for evaluation.
• Teachers should be aware of medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, allergies, etc. that may put individual students at a higher risk of heat illness.
• Parents are reminded to ensure that their children come to school dressed appropriately for the weather, including wearing/bringing sunscreen.

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