Really Chicago Public Schools? (Heat Wave)

(Heat Wave)

So tomorrow and Thursday our heat index is supposed to be between 110 and 115 degrees. We are in our 5th week of ESY/summer school. The only children who qualify for the 6 week program (well that should qualify) are the severe special education students. CPS has helped by providing 8 oz of water per kid. Many of our buildings are well over 100 years old and the only places with A/C in many buildings are in the office. Many of these children are non-verbal and have trouble expressing their wants and needs.

Tomorrow I will be wearing athletic clothes to work. I'm prepared for the inside of the buiiding to feel well above 100 degrees. Inhumane!

CPS never closes- because as the old mayor used to say, "kids need a hot meal."

We actually closed two days last year (but it took 22 inches of snow) and we had to make the days up because we had no weather days built in.

 

8 oz? Wow.

 

8oz??? Really? We're dealing with the same heat wave, and even in my air conditioned buildings I find myself almost unable to drink enough water to keep hydrated.

 

Yes, each child is given two 4 oz "juice cups" of water for the day.

 

We essentially told our families "we won't be closing, but use your discretion before you put your child on a 45 min bus ride, followed by 3.5 hours in a sauna and then another 45 min bus ride." I bet we'll have 3 or so kids per room tomorrow.

 

Do you not have water fountains?

 

We do have water fountains, but many of the kids don't quite understand how they work. The few that do, we take to the water fountains, we try to teach the others- but they don' quite get it.

 

Can you bring paper cups to fill up from the water fountain for those that can't use them? Granted, if they're anything like me, you'll spend your entire day filling up cups, but that's better than calling rescue for sick kids.

 

That is so horrible and I know CPS won't close. How hot does it have to be for them to consider closing the schools? Unbelievable!!

 

Well there is a convinence store nearby to the school I'm at- so in a pinch I could run out or send someone- I almost think that the rescue squad will need to be called to a few schools before CPS realizes how ridiculous they are.

Plus they provide no prep time or materials for summer school, so additionally I dont feel it is my job to also provide for their stupidity. I also am not heartless though, so I'll probably stop on the way in and pick up a few bottles of water.

 

I know last August was pretty unbearable (but not this bad) after Track E started (and then you have kids on the third and fourth floors of buildings) and people were pushing for a weather day. Turns out, there are none built into the current contract, which is why they ran into trouble with the snow days in February.

 

What CPS is missing is that this isn't meteorology: this is public health. Good grief.

 

We would also not close for heat (Let's not talk about how many days we've been over 100 degrees...) but our buildings are equipped for it. There is a district policy about a maximum and minimum temperature it can be in a classroom or school before students are not allowed to be there. If it's just one classroom, we move that class for the day. If it's the whole school, we serve lunch then send kids home. That's happened once.

 

I can't find the article now, but there is one that said they've been contacting schools about fans. Not sure how true that is. Also.... There was a lady (new district spokesperson) that says, essentially some kids have no A/C at home and need a meal.

I guess I should say, the same thing happens here in winter when the windchill is -40. Then we let kids walk. At least most summer schools have busing.

 

I don't understand why a school would go on track E knowing that there is no air conditioning. This is ridicoulus. I hope this had more to do with the old CEO but I heard that the goal is to eventually have all CPS schools on track E it would be disastrous as I hardly doubt there would be any teaching done during the month of August during those hot days.

 

This is a valid point and concern.

 

What does "Track E" mean?

 

It's a different schedule.

http://www.cps.edu/Calendar/Key_events/Documents/Cal_2011-2012_TrackE.pdf

 

Track E is a school calendar where students start school the second week of August, get a 2 week break in October, 3 weeks off during winter break, and 2 weeks off during Spring Break.

This has been a problem for schools without AC since it can get really hot in August around here.

 

I'm sure you've already explored all your options, but is there a basement workroom or a conference room in a library with a/c? Could the office convert one of their rooms to a temporary classroom?

 

That is awful. We have had days where the power has gone out here during the hotter months of the school year and were stuck with no A/C for a couple hours. The amount of teaching that happens during that time period declines significantly. It basically becomes, any work we get done is better than nothing, but no real expectations.

 

I'll be at a Track E school this year on the 3rd floor. No air! My classroom already feels like death with just ME in it.

 

I'm in Chicago and our school just had central air and heat installed this past year not because the building gets too hot for the kids but because we're located under the flight path for O'Hare Airport and the federal government determined our students were being exposed to too many high decibals which could result in hearing loss. Yep...go figure. Now keep in mind that our school has been under this flight path for over twenty years and NEVER has any agency stepped in expressing concern about the noise level. Suddenly, when there was all this stimulus money available, we were deemed worthy of A/C. All I figure is some company had the ins with politicians and we were the lucky recipients of their good fortune because this project cost MILLIONS!!!

 

Interesting...served a hot meal. In my district, they do not provide lunch during ESY.

 

Do kids want a HOT meal during a heat wave?

 

Lots of little responses for later. We had one air conditioned room at the school I am at and we put all the kids together perk-8 and watched cartoons.

Though not every school has A/C.

Also- I thought our busses were air conditioned - they are NOT. We put the kids on busses between 11:25 and 11:35 when the heat index was 109 for a 30 - 40 min bus ride for some!

 

Some schools weren't given a choice. Though we do not have A/C and most of us would like to be. I think it was discussed in like February. It is like the Chicago amnesia. In February you forget about August and vise versa.

 

Heck I don't really have suitable A/C at home. However, the argument once again of are we an educational institution or a social service agency. If there is no A/C in the building - what is the point? Most people's homes without A/C are far cooler than the average 100 year old CPS building. Also the city services departmet has cooling shelters and meals. What do the say 23,000 kids do that don't qualify for Summer school do? Only certain programs provide meals anyway. Some schools do have walk in meal service for the neighborhood- never seen kids really take advantage of that.

 

Oh the third floor is awful. Lucky for me- pre-k is required to be on the first floor.

At my first school- the middle schoolers were up there- I hated going up theree because it always smelled like sweat! I wanted to bring deodorant samples with me every time I went up there!

 

We don't get a hot meal in the summer. That is the argument when e have kids walk to school a mile in -40 windchill. They get cold meals in the summer.

 

Lol- so true!

 

Is this a serious statement?

 

Yes it is a serious statement. We are here to educate. We are not babysitters. There are so many times where it has been inappropriate to keep schools open and they do because kids "need a hot meal." I agree kids need a nutritious meal. However, there have clearly been many times that staff and students have had their lives put at risk to have schools open for these few children that need it. What do the kids do on the weekends, holidays, etc. Call me heartless- but I think it is more heartless to put a child on the bus in 110 degree heat index without A/C or in -40 windchill without heat. There are several agencies in the area that provide emergency cooling, heat and food. My main job is to be an educator. On the days like this we remain open where the schools have less than probably 10% attendance we are not educating, we are babysitting. I will go 110% to get my children what they need and contact agencies etc. However, I am not a babysitter.

 

CT, the heat finally broke here today. When is this heat wave supposed to leave your area? I hope for your sake it's soon. The difference in the last few hours has been dramatic!

 

They are saying tomorrow after 2:00. ESY is a 4 day program, so things will be horrid again tomorrow. Weekend is 90's - Monday is low 80's. So our last few days should be much better.

 

I am just shocked that schools don't have AC. This isn't the first time I've heard it - it just still shocks me. I know it's not Texas, but that sounds every bit as hot.....and I don't think you can build a building here without AC.

I mean we run weeks with 100+ temps, but all our schools are built with good AC's.

Oh my goodness I am a wimp! I am sorry for you and all those poor kiddos. Even if you can manage to teach in it, those kids surely cannot focus well enough to learn much. You are in my prayers!!!

 

The newer schools have A/C- but we have some really beautiful old buildings without A/C and boiler rooms for heat.

 

can't they put in Ac's? I know that is probably a dumb question. (Leave it to the girl that's never been out of the South) I know it would be expensive, but......

We have old schools (I know not as old), but all that I know of have had AC put in.

 

We are there to educate. However, we are there to ensure the emotional, physical, and mental well-being of our students. Educational institutions in a way are social services institutions. This is what social justice is all about... more than just educating students about academic content.

 

Perhaps on some level, but I tend to agree with the previous statement... our PRIMARY job is to educate. All else should be secondary.

Regardless, as to the topic: some of the schools around here also didn't have A/C, but they close on any day over 100 degrees. That said, there has been a major push from the community to add A/C to the buildings. Even without summer programs everywhere, August and May/June are usually quite awful in IL. Thankfully, my building is air conditioned. I wonder if the communities threw enough of a fit, would CPS act?