We are looking forward to the start of the 2024-25 school year, and as we prepare to welcome students in just a few days, we are closely monitoring the heat that continues to impact our region and our school buildings.
Thirty-two of PSD’s forty-nine schools do not have air-conditioning systems. This means temperatures in classrooms can rise quickly on hot days. Outside air circulation in our schools is also limited during the day because there is limited window ventilation and doors must be closed during school hours for the safety and security of our students and staff.
We continue to take proactive steps to cool our buildings as much as possible every day by circulating additional cool air through our ventilation systems overnight and using systems of fans in our classrooms and hallways, among other measures to mitigate heat. Despite these efforts, there are times when extreme weather conditions simply make our buildings too hot to be safe and healthy learning environments for our children.
PSD, in partnership with the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (LCDHE) and members of our teaching, classified, and administrative staff, has developed a protocol for determining when to dismiss students early or not have school on days when high temperatures may impact our students and the staff who support them. This protocol will determine whether to implement a two-hour early release or full heat closure for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and students who attend school in unairconditioned buildings, including Centennial High School, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, and Poudre Community Academy (PCA). All four comprehensive high schools, Timnath Middle School High School, Wellington Middle School High School, Poudre Global Academy, and all Transitions Programs will remain in session because these buildings are air conditioned. The Mountain Schools (Livermore, Red Feather, and Stove Prairie) will remain in session and will be monitored for high temperatures.
Decisions about whether to call for a heat-related two-hour early release or closure for students in grades K-8 or those who attend Centennial High School, Poudre Community Academy, or Polaris Expeditionary Learning School will be informed by close monitoring of two data sources: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Heat & Health Tracker for Larimer County, which is based on the NWS HeatRisk Index, and the National Weather Service forecast for zip code 80521.
If one or more of the following conditions are met, the district will consider calling a two-hour early release or full school closure:
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Heat & Health Tracker for Larimer County indicates major or extreme levels of risk of heat-related impacts to individuals. The NWS HeatRisk Index defines major and extreme levels of risk using a color-coded system. Red indicates major risks associated with heat, and magenta indicates extreme risks associated with heat.
- The National Weather Service forecast for zip code 80521 indicates a high temperature above 95 degrees fahrenheit.
- The National Weather Service forecast for zip code 80521 indicates high temperatures at 90 degrees or higher for three consecutive days.
Whenever possible, PSD will notify families and staff of a possible early release or closure 12-24 hours in advance of the closure or early release.
Schools that will be impacted in the event of two-hour early release/closure include:
- All Elementary Schools, except PGA, Livermore, Red Feather, and Stove Prairie Elementary Schools
- All Middle Schools, except PGA, TMHS, and WMHS
- Centennial High School
- Polaris Expeditionary Learning School
- Poudre Community Academy
Schools that will remain in session in the event of an early release or closure due to heat include:
- Fort Collins High School
- Fossil Ridge High School
- Livermore Elementary School
- Poudre Global Academy
- Poudre High School
- Red Feather Elementary School
- Rocky Mountain High School
- Stove Prairie Elementary School
- Timnath Middle High School
- Wellington Middle High School
- Transitions Programs
What does a two-hour early release due to heat mean for students in grades K-8 at impacted schools and students at Centennial, PCA, Polaris, and in Early Childhood?
- Schools will start at the normal time.
- Breakfast and lunch will be served.
- Field trips scheduled for the afternoon will be canceled.
- Students who typically ride the bus home will still do so. Buses will drop students off at their regular stops two hours earlier than usual.
- Afternoon Early Childhood sessions will be canceled. Full day sessions will dismiss two hours early. Morning sessions will run at their regularly-scheduled time.
- After-school activities, including athletics practices and competitions, at these schools will be canceled.
What happens with AlphaBEST on early release or heat-related closure days?
We understand that early release and closures can create childcare-related challenges for families. If PSD calls for an early release or heat-related closure, AlphaBEST childcare services will be available at Bacon Elementary School. Space will be limited and families are encouraged to follow AlphaBEST’s procedures for registering children to use these services during early releases or closures. Families using AlphaBEST childcare services will be responsible for transporting their students to AlphaBEST in the event of an early release or closure. For more information about AlphaBEST services, please contact AlphaBEST directly.
What does a full day closure due to heat mean for students in grades K-8 at impacted schools and students at Centennial, PCA, and Polaris?
- Schools will be closed.
- All after school activities will be canceled.
What does a two-hour early release or full-day closure due to heat mean for students who attend FCHS, FRHS, PHS, RMHS, TMHS, WMHS, PGA, and the Transitions Programs?
- Schools will operate normally.
- After school activities, including athletics, and competitions for high school students will continue. Middle School after school activities, including athletics, and competitions will be canceled.
- Schools may make a determination to move extracurricular activities to mornings or later in the evenings, depending on the availability of club or activity sponsors.
- Coaches may also make modifications to outdoor practices and competitions based on air quality guidance provided by the Colorado High School Sports Association. CHSAA recommends organizers consider canceling, postponing, or moving outdoor events indoors or moving them to an area with “good” air quality if the Air Quality Index is 151 or higher. PSD Athletics will also monitor the Wet Globe Temperature in alignment with CHSAA recommendations and notify schools if after school practices and activities need to be canceled.
- At TMHS and WMHS, all middle school after school activities, including athletics, and competitions will be canceled.
Why is PSD considering early release or heat-related closures for some schools but not others?
- Most of our schools do not have air conditioning. Some only have air conditioning in certain spaces like computer labs or media centers.
- Since students at most of our elementary and middle schools are transported together, an early release or closure must be called for all elementary and middle schools, even those with air conditioning.
- The district is taking all possible steps to cool our buildings, including drawing more cool air in through school doors and ventilation systems early in the morning and providing fans in hallways and every classroom. But, these efforts are, at times, not enough to combat high temperatures.
- We also believe that, whenever possible, our students should be in school. Some of our schools have air conditioning and can continue to operate normally during instances of high temperatures.
It is never an easy decision to release schools early or close them due to heat. Many of you have also shared concerns about heat in our schools with your principals, our Board of Education, and Superintendent Brian Kingsley. We know that high temperatures make learning and teaching more challenging, and we appreciate your advocacy on behalf of our students. We thank you for your continued partnership as we strive to provide the best possible learning experiences to each of our students.