Educational Services Division
Principals shall declare a Heat Day Release
using the factors of ambient air temperature, heat index, air pollution
standards, etc., as they are reported on Accuweather.com.
(Verify forecast with nbcsandiego.com; weather.yahoo.com/forecast; or www.weather.com.) Decisions should be based upon extreme
temperatures in classrooms that are not air-conditioned, and the following
guidelines:
1.
School administration will base any
decision of potential Heat Day release on information provided by the
Accuweather.com forecast (a temperature of 95 degrees or higher and high
temperatures forecast for more than one day). A minimum day shall be declared
before 7:00 a.m. if a Heat Day release is to be called.
2.
When the weather
forecast is for more than one consecutive day of temperatures of 95 degrees or
higher, principals shall recommend a Heat Day release for the following school
day with the approval of the Superintendent.
3.
Schools participating in a Heat Day release will use their
approved minimum-day schedule (if instructional minutes permit).
4.
While passing minutes vary, (some sites
as low as 5 minutes and others as high as 10 minutes) passing periods must be
consistent per school all year long.
Minimum days must be 180 minutes; and a 240 minute average over any
two-day period (180/300). Exceptions
will need to be approved by the Superintendent.
5.
Faculty handbooks, student handbooks,
PTSA newsletters, and registration materials will include information about
Heat Day releases.
6.
Principals will distribute a Room Share Plan at the beginning of the
school year. Teachers who are teaching in classrooms without air conditioning
may move their classes to an available air-conditioned classroom in the
afternoon if temperatures become too warm to conduct class. Affected teachers
will be notified and provided keys to air-conditioned classrooms in advance.
7. Follow
Checklist (attached).