Important Message from Woodland D50

Aug. 21, 2023

Dear Woodland Families,

As we prepare for the first day of school, we are closely monitoring the heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service and in effect for our area on Wednesday and Thursday this week. According to the advisory, a heat wave is expected Tuesday through Thursday with high temperatures and humid conditions that may see peak heat indices reach 105 - 115 degrees.

The safety of our staff and students is our top priority, so here are a few precautionary measures we will be taking:

• We will limit outdoor activities throughout the day. Students will not go outside for recess or P.E. class.
• We will ask all classrooms to lower the blinds to keep direct sunlight from raising internal temperatures.
• Teachers will be asked to dim classroom lights and limit the use of extra electronic devices and appliances.
• Students will be encouraged to stay hydrated throughout the day. Please consider sending a refillable water bottle with your child/children.
• Staff and students are encouraged to dress comfortably for the anticipated temperatures.
• If your child has specific medical concerns related to heat, please make sure you inform the school nurse.

Woodland Intermediate School:

Families with children at Woodland Intermediate have already heard from Mr. Sheldon that we are operating at about half of our normal air conditioner power due to recent parts failures in our cooling system at the Intermediate school. We expect the extreme heat may overwhelm the system, so we will be implementing additional measures for this location.

• Should classrooms begin to lose air-conditioning due to system failure, we will rotate students throughout the day to cooling spaces such as the library, gymnasiums, or the cafeteria.
• We have reserved three charter buses to use as cooling stations should we need additional air-conditioned areas to hold staff and students.
• We will be using portable fans and AC units in strategic locations to help circulate air throughout hallways and corridors.
• The facilities team is also working on expediting repairs and replacing parts as we work toward a permanent solution.

Transportation:

District leaders discussed slight changes to busing procedures at the end of the day to limit the amount of time students will need to stand outside and wait to load their bus. These modifications will also limit the amount of time students will wait on the bus before leaving the parking lot. Windows will be open on the buses, and air will circulate while they are in motion, but there is no air conditioning on the buses.

We are committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for our staff and students and we thank you for your cooperation. Weather is unpredictable and conditions may vary, so Parents/Guardians are urged to use your best judgment in determining if your child should attend school.

We look forward to a successful start to the new school year. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your school principal or me.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert Machak, Superintendent

Woodland D50