Waltham High School Closed Early Tuesday. Here's Why

WALTHAM, MA — Students barely had a chance to get to practice the new routine at Waltham High School before the weather has given reason to send them home early this week. On Labor Day the folks from Waltham Public Schools called it for Tuesday because of high temperatures and school let out at noon.

The high for the day is slated to reach the upper 80s, but AC is limited at the high school and that means temperatures are even higher inside, according to the Waltham Superintendent of Schools.

The majority of the high school is not air conditioned and most classroom temperatures (especially those on the third floor and in the front of the building) were in excess of 95 degrees and getting hotter around noon, according to Superintendent Drew Echelson.

"The humidity has not helped. We are taking a number of precautions in an attempt to cool down the building and to prevent students or faculty from getting sick," he said.

Those precautions this weekend included opening all windows running the limited AC all weekend throughout the high school; purchasing additional fans for second and third floors; opening all classroom doors on the 2nd and 3rd floor to get cross ventilation.

"In addition, we've made plenty of cool water available for students and faculty," he told Patch in an email.

All other schools have air conditioning.

Happy First full week of school, Waltham High School!

Check out the schedule for Waltham Public Schools:

Waltham School Calendar 2018-19

Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff