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109 degrees on the first day of school?
That was the reality in Palm Springs, California, where parent Cyd Detiege has been advocating to delay the school year due to extreme heat.
Palm Springs Unified District officials haven’t relented, but other districts in the U.S. are adjusting school calendars to avoid high heat, according to a new Hechinger story from Erin Rode.
Desert Sands Unified School District, after examining the hottest weeks, decided to start the school year later and extend it into June.
Other districts like Denver, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia are also delaying school openings due to heat. Denver school board president Carrie A. Olson stated, “Just thinking about the shift in our climate across our planet, shifting the calendar isn’t going to be as helpful as it was three years ago.” She emphasized the need for more air conditioning and heat mitigation strategies.
Climate change has altered perceptions of seasons. Growing up in Washington, D.C., summers were enjoyable, but now, fall is the time to escape outdoors.
Related reads
How extreme heat is threatening education progress worldwide. New UNICEF data reveals how hot temperatures are undoing education advancements, with today’s kids experiencing twice as many extremely hot days as their grandparents.
Canceled classes, sweltering classrooms: How extreme heat impairs learning. This article discusses the impact of high temperatures on students, including racial divides in education.
As climate change fuels hotter temperatures, kids are learning less. Policymakers are noticing how higher temperatures affect student learning.
The interview
Shiva Rajbhandari, who served a two-year term on the Boise School Board in Idaho, ran on a climate change platform and is now a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an organizer for the Sunrise Movement. The interview has been edited for clarity and length.
You ran for school board on comprehensive climate education and energy efficient schools. How much progress were you able to make on those issues?
“We have conducted a districtwide, scope one through three carbon audit, using a private contractor, and have identified easy ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money in the process. Now we are putting together a long-term plan on greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and also on water conservation, waste reduction and climate education.”
What do you want to see happen in the next two years?
“I hope we can pass a comprehensive climate action plan this year. With money from the EPA and Inflation Reduction Act, we can start implementing changes immediately, like purchasing electric buses.”
Do you feel like your other school board members took you seriously?
“Not at first. But I think I changed that over my term. I expanded student voice and showed that students are valuable contributors.”
You had pushed for a permanent student non-voting position on the board but that didn’t happen. Is that something you’ll keep pushing for?
“Yes, absolutely. Students bring a needed perspective in the boardroom, as they see the daily implementation of policies.”
What are the biggest barriers to progress on these climate and education issues?
“It’s a belief gap. Schools play a crucial role in modern society, not just in teaching core subjects. They have the power to shape communities and demonstrate climate solutions.”
Help a reporter
My colleagues and I were struck by a recent Guardian story on four high school football players who died in August due to heat-related causes. At Hechinger, we want to know what training coaches and teachers need to keep kids safe in a hotter world. Share your thoughts at newsletter@hechingerreport.org
Resources and events
- How districts are spending Inflation Reduction Act dollars to green their schools: Undaunted K12 shared an interactive map showing school districts using federal tax credits for clean energy projects. Examples include the Menasha Joint School District in Wisconsin, Hasting Public Schools in Nebraska, and North Carolina’s Clinton City Schools.
- How to protect vulnerable Americans — including children — from extreme heat: An event on Sept. 18 hosted by the Center for American Progress will address this topic. Speakers include Levar M. Stoney, Rev. Terrance McKinley, John M. Balbus, and David Michaels.
This story about schools and heat was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the climate and education newsletter.
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