Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students and officials are heading back to the classroom Monday amid extreme heat warnings. Hundreds of CPS students are returning, and school officials are taking all necessary precautions to keep students safe during the heat wave affecting Cook County. In a letter sent over the weekend, the district assured parents and students that all classrooms have air conditioning.
They also mentioned that maintenance teams will be on hand to fix any issues. Extra measures are being taken, including moving recess and physical education classes indoors on Monday and Tuesday. Outdoor sporting competitions have been canceled, and practices will either be moved inside or canceled.
CPS students’ heat safety measures
Maximizing attendance from day one is always a priority for CPS. As in previous years, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) offers free rides for all K-12 children and an accompanying adult on the first day of school.
“I am going to try to get him as prepared as possible and hydrated,” said parent Ben Linton. “But they’ve got transportation, so they’ll be okay.”
CPS CEO Pedro Martinez emphasized the efforts to keep students comfortable during the heat wave, saying, “I want our families to know that we have had our AC systems on all weekend. We have even installed window units in some of our older buildings to ensure every classroom is adequately cooled. We have many backups ready if any of our systems go out.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez will attend a ceremonial bell ringing at McAuliffe Elementary School to mark the start of the new school year. This year’s challenges, compounded by the heat wave, have been met with extensive planning to ensure a smooth and safe start for Chicago Public Schools.
