Charles City schools brace for more heat this week

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Community School Board discussed the start of the new school year during its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 28.

Monday marked the first full day of classes since the school year began last Wednesday. Due to the forecast of extreme temperatures, the first two days of school were cut short before classes even began and in spite of their intentions to have a full day of school on Friday, the internal temperature of the high school resulted in classes getting cut short for a third day in a row.

“The temperature of the high school on Friday morning exceeded the temperature on Wednesday,” said Superintendent Dr. Anne Lundquist.

While the district is using every available option to keep the high school cool, school officials said, from moving classes to cooler parts of the building to setting up industrial strength fans in the hallways, the oppressive heat still brought teachers and students alike to their limit.

Anticipating another spike in temperatures this week, Lundquist advised the board that it’s possible that more early outs were possible, leading to a side discussion about advocating that the state allow schools to start later in the summer, creating a shorter school year with longer days.

In new business, the board approved the transfer of activity funds from the Classes of 2022 and 2023 to the Class of 2025. The board also approved corrections to the employee handbook and held the second reading of the district’s updated medical leave policies.

In the consent agenda, the board approved a contract with AgVantage FS to secure propane through March, approved a bus sharing agreement with Nashua-Plainfield, extended its lease with the First Congregational Society of Floyd County for use of the church facilities for innovative campus uses, and approved the purchase of 129 ADA compliant door handles from Doors Inc. to replace non-compliant handles in the high school.