August 26, 2024
Hello,
Welcome back to the 2024-25 school year! As my team and I traveled the district on our first day, we saw many parents with smiling faces (a few with a tear in their eye), students reconnecting with friends, and teachers settling into their classrooms. Thank you to everyone for making our first day a great success!
Once again we are starting the school year with temperatures and humidity levels a bit higher than normal for this time of year. I understand that it could be uncomfortable in some of our classrooms throughout the District, especially those with a second and third floor. I remember teaching on the third floor at Salina and understand how the temperature can impact classroom activities. Please remember that for some of our students, attending school that has air conditioning may be the only break they get from the heat. Fortunately, this is a short week with no school on Friday and next week’s temperatures are predicted to be a bit cooler.
Every building in our district is unique. Some have air conditioning throughout, others in certain spaces, and still others have very limited air conditioning. With the help of federal grant dollars we have been able to expand HVAC and air conditioning throughout the district. Even since last year we have additional schools, or areas within the school, that now have air conditioning. However, due to the funding system in Michigan we do not have the budget to fully expand air conditioning throughout the entire district without a ballot initiative or a major infrastructure investment from the state or federal government.
Our Principals are working with their staff members to work through these conditions and continue to provide meaningful instruction to our students. We will take appropriate precautions, will ensure that students are hydrated, will limit physical activities, and will move instruction to cooler locations in the schools as necessary and as determined by staff in specific buildings. Listed at the end of this communication are Helpful Hints that were sent out to Principals.
Thank you for your support of Dearborn Public Schools and our students. I appreciate your efforts in helping us to provide our students, your children, with the very best education during our warmer days and throughout the year.
Regards,
Glenn Maleyko, Ph.D
Superintendent
“Helpful Hints During Heat Days” was sent to all building administrators.
Some may apply more to the elementary level and others work better at secondary.
Wear it Well-
Allow for Dress Code flexibility and cooler clothes including appropriate shorts if necessary during the heat days.
H2O to the Rescue
Stay hydrated! Drinking lots of water and avoiding sugar and caffeine will keep your body from reacting to the heat. Allow students to keep a water bottle at their desk when temperatures are in the 90’s.
Limit Physical Activities
Please monitor any in-school and afterschool activities. Limit or reduce practice times.
Go to Different locations in the building to hold class.
For example, some schools have air conditioning in the cafeteria, staff meeting room, computer lab, media center, or other areas in the building. Over the past several years we have increased our air conditioning capacity in the district but have not been able to afford air conditioning everywhere.
Take it Outside
Allow teachers to move their class outside for a short time. Believe it or not, it can actually be cooler outside in the shade of a tree with a breeze than in a closed up classroom with less air circulation.
Close the Shades
For classrooms with shades it’s best to keep them closed. Many of our classrooms have cooler less heat producing lighting so blocking out the hot sun will help to keep classrooms cooler. Of course, turning out the lights is always an option as well.
Blow It Out
If you do have a fan in your classroom, use it to blow the hot air out the window rather than facing in toward the room. If possible, place the fan directly across from the classroom door to create a flow of air through the room.
Get Low (Elementary level especially)
Expand the use of having students work in a group sitting on the floor.
Cool Rewards
Reward yourself and your students with cooling breaks. For a quick fix, run cold water over your wrist or a damp cloth on the back of your neck.