Heat-related early releases, closures possible as Poudre School District begins new year
The district will consider, but not necessarily implement, two-hour early releases or full-day closures for all elementary and middle schools and alternative high schools other than its three mountain elementary schools, whenever:
The HeatRisk Index for Larimer County, as determined by the National Weather Service, is at the red (major) or magenta (extreme) levels
NWS forecasted highs of 95 degrees or above for ZIP code 80525
NWS forecasted highs of 90 degrees for three consecutive days, including weekends, for ZIP code 80525
'The meeting of these conditions does not automatically result in a heat-related early release or closure,' the protocol on the district website reads. 'As these decisions are made, the district will notify staff and families.'
Schools subject to heat-related early releases and closures include all early childhood programs and elementary schools other than Livermore, Red Feather and Stove Prairie, all middle schools, Centennial High School, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School and Poudre Community Academy, according to the district policy.
PSD's traditional high schools — Fort Collins, Fossil Ridge, Poudre and Rocky Mountain — all have air conditioning and would remain open, as would Timnath and Wellington middle-high schools, Poudre Global Academy and Transitions Pathways programs.
Conditions at the mountain elementary schools will be monitored but remain in session unless otherwise noted, the district policy reads.
The NWS forecast Aug. 11 for the 80525 ZIP code for Aug. 13, the first day of school for sixth- and ninth-graders in PSD, and Aug. 14, the first day of school for all students in the district, called for a high temperature of 97 each day.
PSD is adding air conditioning to all of its school buildings that don't have it with money from the 2024 debt-free schools mill levy that was approved by voters. But it can only complete a handful of schools each year because of financial constraints and the availability of contractors to perform the work, Chief Financial Officer Dave Montoya has said in multiple presentations to the Board of Education over the past two years.
Reporter Kelly Lyell covers education, breaking news, some sports and other topics of interest for the Coloradoan. Contact him at kellylyell@coloradoan.com, x.com/KellyLyell, threads.net/KellyLyell and facebook.com/KellyLyell.news.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Heat-related early releases or closures possible as school year begins
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