School districts working to beat the heat

On the spring side of the calendar, extending the school year to avoid August and September heat can cause scheduling issues with graduation venues and curriculum problems with AP testing, which typically occurs in May.

A late-starting summer also can put high school students looking for summer work at a disadvantage and can run up against summer college semesters for graduating seniors looking to get a head start on higher education.

"June is usually the month everybody is out looking for jobs," Principal Hess said.

In addition to comfort, a benefit of air conditioning in schools is the flexibility it brings to the calendar, from determining the start and end dates of the school year to offering the facilities for community events during the summer, Horsley said.

"The school is intended to be a community hub," he said. "They're really hot in the summer, so they don't get used."

Granite School District policy requires school officials to record daily classroom temperatures after May 1 and before Sept. 15 and engage in a mitigation plan in cases of excessive heat.

Cyprus has been operating at a "caution level," which dictates that school officials encourage students to wear lightweight clothing and take frequent water breaks.

If temperatures increase to an "extreme caution level" of 90 to 99 degrees or a "danger level" of 100 degrees or hotter, additional actions are required — including the possible dismissal of classes.

E-mail: benwood@desnews.com