Ohio schools are closed (again) because of the heat

adelaster · Sep 26, 2017

This is not going to be a problem that goes away.

Studies have shown links between extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) and a decline in cognitive function and memorization/recall. As someone who has always loathed "busy work" it seems like those who voice the "just stick it out" or "sit outside" or "we're fostering weakness" arguments are basically supporting just that-with the added risk of jeopardizing someone's health. No one is winning in a 95+ degree classroom. Parents that cannot accommodate early dismissal or inclement weather scenarios like this should be vocal and giving when it comes to supporting school improvements (and when considering having children, which is usually a choice that gets overlooked). It is going to need addressed. As someone who has worked with schools and youth it has been disheartening to both witness and hear about conditions in many schools-especially in less socio-economically privileged areas. The dichotomy is real. Just like the sustained alteration in weather patterns.

Minnesota! · Sep 26, 2017

declansdad said:
Fans that simply move warm air around are not much good.

Schools are not daycares.

If the temperature exceeds a certain point there will be no learning taking place and it could be potentially dangerous for some people. It would be better to close the school than try to work and learn in situations like this.

sam_gordon said:
To circulate hot, closed air?

I disagree, but I don't run the schools so it doesn't matter

mjkacmom · Sep 26, 2017

declansdad said:
Fans that simply move warm air around are not much good.

Schools are not daycares.

If the temperature exceeds a certain point there will be no learning taking place and it could be potentially dangerous for some people. It would be better to close the school than try to work and learn in situations like this.

But that just adds on school days in the end, when it could potentially be just as hot. If I think it's too hot for my kids, and no learning is going on, I'll just keep them home. Some working parents with small kids don't always have childcare if the schools close unexpectedly.

Capang · Sep 26, 2017

mjkacmom said:
But that just adds on school days in the end, when it could potentially be just as hot. If I think it's too hot for my kids, and no learning is going on, I'll just keep them home. Some working parents with small kids don't always have childcare if the schools close unexpectedly.

In Ohio it may not. We have these days built in to school calendars. Ohio schools must show a certain number of instructional hours each year. Districts build in way more hours than needed. Most districts can take 5-10 days without having to make them up. Some districts even longer. As for the daycare, yes it's an issue. But schools are not daycares. As parents it is something we prepare for living in Ohio. We know we can have snow days and that we need emergency sitters for such occasions. That's a parent responsibility, not a school responsibility.

declansdad · Sep 26, 2017

Minnesota! said:
I disagree, but I don't run the schools so it doesn't matter

Disagree with what?

hereyago · Sep 26, 2017

melanielll said:
As someone who grew up in the south, I am chuckling at 92 being too hot. We did not have ac in our schools then, and we all survived.

Yea, I did to. However, I am not giggling (no offense),/but I hate when it is winter and we get made fun of for closing from people who are used to snow. It all comes down to what you are used to and what resources your area has.

It isnt usually nasty hot for a long duration where OP is from to justify having air conditioning in schools and in the lower states, our cities can't justify having a lot of plows etc.

jiminyC_fan · Sep 26, 2017

It seems odd to me. I went to high school in SD in an unconditioned 4 story school. I most certainly survived the heat and humidity. Yes, I was hot but I did learn. It was almost non existent to get a snow day as well.

StephMK · Sep 26, 2017

I used to work in a school with no AC. They would have 2 hr early dismissal on those days so we didn't have to make up but we're out by 1 before it got unbearable.

Cannot_Wait_4Disney · Sep 26, 2017

teller80 said:
Yes, it's record breaking (92 today), but do you think it's TOO hot for school? (Most schools here don't have a/c).

Given the humidity associated with that in many places i certainly do in some cases. In the north, many buildings are designed to trap the heat. And they do a pretty good job of it. Some schools might have radiators rather than a central heating system with a blower. So they might net even be able to have a system to circulate the air properly in these conditions. On say the third floor of such a building in an interior classroom, 92 with a ton of humidity outside could mean 110-115 inside (and still humid.)
Heat related illness is nothing to sneeze at. If it's too cold you can put another layer on. You can't take the last layer off in the heat.

My school never closed for heat and it was over 100 frequently in September but the buildings were designed to dissipate it. They had breezeways through every wing positioned so the prevailing breeze would go through. We did not have central heat, nor air but each room had a heating unit with a blower that at least could move some air and windows could be opened. And because it was dry in the hotter months, swamp coolers could be brought in and used for cooling.

For those that don't know what a swamp cooler is it's a blower unit that circulates air through wet wood slivers or across a pool of water to cool. There are no condensers or compressors. Commercial swamp units use a water pump and are hooked into the water supply. With portable units, you usually have to go get the water every so often and pour it in. One can't use it in high humidity because evaporation is the cooling method.

Okay, now that that has been said (Big Evil Grin) For all those that poke fun at the south and west in the winter, IT'S PAYBACK TIME!!!

Oh look at those yankees. They can't stand the heat and are getting out of the kitchen before the stove is even turned on. Yeah they should come down here and we'll show em some REAL heat. Haven't they heard of Air Conditioning or ceiling fans up there? We really need to bring them into the 21st century. Canceling school for the heat. Who ever heard of such a thing? I wonder if they know what a swimming pool is? Why down here when we were school aged, we walked over burning charcoal, barefoot. Both ways. And for good measure just to toughen us up, we walked over it three extra times on mondays. Didn't hurt us none. And now they're complaining of 92. Sheesh.

eeyoreandtink · Sep 26, 2017

How do the schools justify not having at least window unit AC? Surely it cannot be so prohibitively expensive that children and teachers need to suffer in 100+ degree classrooms. How many days a year is it like this on average?
Granted, I live in the deep south, but no one around here would dream of sending their kids to school without AC in the late summer. Temps in the classroom reach dangerous level quickly and the humidity is pretty much 100% all the time, at least from the time school start until close to Thanksgiving, the again stating about the middle of March onwards. We run AC pretty much daily march- November and it isn't unheard of to have temps in the 80's in December or January the necessitate turning it back on for a few days.

Capang · Sep 26, 2017

eeyoreandtink said:
How do the schools justify not having at least window unit AC? Surely it cannot be so prohibitively expensive that children and teachers need to suffer in 100+ degree classrooms. How many days a year is it like this on average?
Granted, I live in the deep south, but no one around here would dream of sending their kids to school without AC in the late summer. Temps in the classroom reach dangerous level quickly and the humidity is pretty much 100% all the time, at least from the time school start until close to Thanksgiving, the again stating about the middle of March onwards. We run AC pretty much daily march- November and it isn't unheard of to have temps in the 80's in December or January the necessitate turning it back on for a few days.

Given that schools up here are usually not in session during the really hot months very few schools have air. It is cost prohibitive to buy, install, and mostly run window ac unites for all of the classrooms. It's usually never like this in September and we typically don't have stretches of days above 90 here all in a row. We have days like this in July/August but not as many and not all in a row.

BigAlsGal · Sep 26, 2017

Geeze. Schools in this area have had AC since the 80's. :sad2:

Indiana

declansdad · Sep 26, 2017

BigAlsGal said:
Geeze. Schools in this area have had AC since the 80's.

Indiana

Nice that they can afford it.

soccerdad72 · Sep 26, 2017

BigAlsGal said:
Geeze. Schools in this area have had AC since the 80's.

Indiana

Impressive that you can speak for the HVAC systems of an entire state's schools. :thumbsup2

BigAlsGal · Sep 26, 2017

declansdad said:
Nice that they can afford it.

I wasnt bragging. It's a travesty really. Every public building has AC but somehow schools get pushed to the back burner because. Ya know. A 90 degree learning environment is acceptable. I didn't even realize there were schools without AC. I'm almost 40 and I've never studied in a class without AC!

Shelly F - Ohio · Sep 26, 2017

When its hot like this the kids are not going to pay attention so why force them to stay in hot buildings. A lot of kids where getting sick from the heat. NE Ohio has 39 schools closed today and 40 yesterday. Imgine how you would feel if your house was 95 degrees inside.

BrinkofSunshine · Sep 26, 2017

BigAlsGal said:
I wasnt bragging. It's a travesty really. Every public building has AC but somehow schools get pushed to the back burner because. Ya know. A 90 degree learning environment is acceptable. I didn't even realize there were schools without AC. I'm almost 40 and I've never studied in a class without AC!

It never occurred to me either, but I live in FL. If the entire state of FL can afford to run HVAC in every single school 365 days a year, I'm surprised other states can't install some sort of HVAC systems in their schools.

AppleDumpling · Sep 26, 2017

What do you think people did before AC was invented?

I grew up with no AC in school and we managed. Most schools in the area still don't have AC, with the exception of some non-classroom areas (the office, and the library, I think). I really don't recall more than a handful of days each year when it was an issue. As others have said, the hottest days are when school is out for the summer.

And BTW, I don't now nor have I ever had central AC in my home, and don't feel it's necessary here.

RedAngie · Sep 26, 2017

BrinkofSunshine said:
It never occurred to me either, but I live in FL. If the entire state of FL can afford to run HVAC in every single school 365 days a year, I'm surprised other states can't install some sort of HVAC systems in their schools.

They can, but choose not to. It usually not necessary in most northern states where school starts after Labor Day. Definitely cheaper to cancel classes on the rare occasions it gets too hot.

Besides, many of the same parents who complain about their kids being subjected to hot classrooms would likely vehemently object to increased school budgets for such a "luxury."

soccerdad72 · Sep 26, 2017

BrinkofSunshine said:
It never occurred to me either, but I live in FL. If the entire state of FL can afford to run HVAC in every single school 365 days a year, I'm surprised other states can't install some sort of HVAC systems in their schools.

Do they really need to run it year-round? Are schools running A/C throughout the winter months in most of the state of FL?

Ohio schools are closed (again) because of the heat

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