'Extreme Heat' Delays Start Of School For District 58 Students

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — The start of school has been delayed for students in Downers Grove Grade School District 58 due to extreme heat, district officials shared in an update Monday. The first day of school had been set for Wednesday, but has been postponed until Friday.

The decision comes as heat indices threaten to reach 115 degrees in the Chicagoland area Wednesday and Thursday.

"[M]ost areas of our schools are not equipped with air conditioning nor modern HVAC systems," District 58 Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell wrote in the update.

He added that this "can cause significant issues for individuals in extreme weather."

Despite the delayed start to school, the district will not employ remote learning Wednesday and Thursday. Dr. Russell wrote that this decision was made because most students would not have received the devices or training they need for remote learning.

Additionally, "the first few days of school are used to build relationships and routines and remote learning is not conducive to that," Dr. Russell wrote.

He concluded, "Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we navigate these challenges together. Your children’s and our staff's safety are of the utmost importance to us, and we are committed to providing the best possible educational experience for our students."