Baltimore City Schools Dismiss Early Due to Heat and Lack of Air Conditioning

BALTIMORE — A sweltering heat wave led to early dismissals at several Baltimore City public schools on Monday, as temperatures inside classrooms soared due to a lack of air conditioning.

Julie Merrell, a special education teacher at Patterson High School, reported that her classroom temperature reached 90 degrees, making it difficult for both students and teachers to function effectively. "This is really horrific for students to have to take high stakes tests in a 90-degree situation," Merrell stated, highlighting the challenges faced during finals week.

At approximately 10 a.m., an email notification from the district informed Merrell and her colleagues that Patterson High and 27 other schools would dismiss students at 10:30 a.m. and transition to virtual learning due to the extreme heat. The short notice left teachers scrambling to adjust their plans for final exams.

The Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPSS) acknowledged the logistical issues that delayed the announcement, stating, "Typically, our goal is to make such announcements the night before an inclement weather event. Unfortunately, we experienced some challenges that slowed our notification process. We apologize for any inconvenience and will provide greater advance notice moving forward."

Merrell expressed concern over the impact of the heat on student attendance and performance, noting that some students who had thrived in-person learning were now absent due to the uncomfortable conditions.

Marigold Lewi, a 10th grader at Baltimore City College, shared her frustrations as her sisters were sent home early. She emphasized that these disruptions are detrimental to students’ education, especially in the final week of school. "Students are missing their last week of the grade, even though they barely had a year," Lewi remarked.

The Baltimore Teachers Union criticized the district for not taking proactive measures, stating that the heat was anticipated well in advance. They highlighted the long-standing issue of underfunded schools in Baltimore, resulting in inadequate facilities for students. "None of us should feel comfortable with waiting decades to give our children a safe and appropriate learning environment," the union stated.

As temperatures are expected to remain high, families will be informed Monday evening about whether schools will continue with virtual learning on Tuesday.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR 2 News (source).