New Jersey Schools Dismiss Students Early Because Of Extreme Heat
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – Dozens of schools across New Jersey dismissed students early Thursday due to extreme heat.
The move comes a day after four students had to be taken to the hospitalize after getting sick during gym class on the first day of school at Bergen Arts and Science charter school in Hackensack.
Temperatures were in the low 90s Thursday.
As CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported, it's especially dangerous to send kids out for recess, and some of the schools don't have air conditioners.
At the Cordero School in Jersey City, the elementary and middle schoolers will got out around 12:45 p.m.
"Really hot and everybody was so sweaty," student Marie Syed told Burrell.
"It's very humid. It does not feel good, and people get a lot of nose bleeds," said fellow student Ciellesse Cotto.
More: Summer Heat Safety Guide
Without air conditioning, the school nurse said the classrooms in the brick four-story building were close to unbearable.
"Up on the fourth floor, it's really smoldering, it's really uncomfortable for them there," nurse Bernadette Stone said.
Parents told Burrell they're frustrated because they hoped to avoid that all together.
"The parents got really involved last year and they raised over $30,000 to bring air conditioning units to the school," said parent Veronica Park.
They said they raised the money after getting a promise from the Board of Education and the district saying the district would pay to have the school's electric system upgraded so the units could be installed.
Park said the AC units that were bought in June are "now sitting in the basement, and there has been no follow-through from the Board of Ed that they will actually have them installed."
The school does have a couple units in the nurse's office and principal's office, Burrell reported.
Some of the kids were happy about getting a half day.
"I think it's kind of great," student Katulyn Rodriguez said.
"It's going to be hot outside, so we can go to the park after," said fellow student Daniel Corvisiero.
But many of their parents were left scrambling to make arrangements.
"Now I have to call and kind of cancel my appointments and change things, but that's the way -- you've got to take care of the kids, right?" parent Shah Syed said.
CBS2 asked the district superintendent about the air conditioners and whether it plans to pay to upgrade the electricity, but we have not yet heard back.
Nearly 30 school districts plan to close early so their students won't be subjected to peak afternoon heat:
Bergen County
Fort Lee Public Schools
Hackensack Public Schools
Hasbrouck Heights School District
Lodi Public Schools
Midland Park Public Schools
Norwood Public School
Teaneck Public Schools
Tenafly Public Schools
Ramsey School District
Waldwick School District
Westwood Regional School District
Essex County
Belleville Public Schools
Bloomfield School District
Verona Public Schools
Hudson County
Mercer County
Hamilton Public Schools
Trenton Public Schools
Morris County
Hanover Park High School
Madison Public Schools
Montville Township Public Schools
Morris School District
Netcong Elementary School
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Schools
Passaic County
Clifton Public Schools
Hawthorne Public Schools
Patterson Public Schools
Wayne Township Schools
Union County
Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District
Union Township Public Schools
Additionally, Saddle Brook public schools had a delayed opening due to power outages.
