Which Melrose Schools Have Air Conditioning?

MELROSE, MA — Don't expect any 'heat days' delaying the start of school in Melrose. Despite scorching temperatures this week, the first day of school is still set for Wednesday, Aug. 29.

That doesn't mean Melrose is ignoring the heat. Superintendent Cyndy Taymore said several precautions are being taken.

All or most of the classrooms and commons spaces at the high school, middle school, Roosevelt School, and 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 and Winthrop schools have air conditioning.

The Horace Mann, Hoover, Winthrop and Frankling schools will have fans placed throughout the buildings.

All buildings will be pre-cooled before school starts, the shades will be closed on south-facing windows, and the lights will be turned off when possible.

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"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," 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."

Each school will determine the following individually:

• 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.

Photo by Mike Carraggi, Patch