Hot Schools Let Out Early

Nearly a dozen schools let out early today because of the extreme heat in South Dakota on Tuesday.  At Lake Preston, kids were dismissed over the noon hour because the school has no central air.

It's hard to be a fan of hot weather when your school doesn't have air conditioning.

"In a few of the classrooms, it gets really hot," sophomore Kristen Longville said.

Lake Preston school officials made the decision to let kids go home early, but it's not the first time this year.

"It's just too hot for the kids to concentrate; we let out a half day on Friday last week," Superintendent Tim Casper said.

A few of the administrative offices have air conditioners and so does the library, but district officials say when temps hover close to triple digits, the classrooms become boiler rooms.

"It's just the fact while you're here, are we getting anything out of the day?  Especially little kids when they come in from recess.  You can almost imagine what a room would be like today at 2 p.m. after a fifth-grade recess," Casper said.

The students say they're used to it because it happened last year too.  They try and dress appropriately to avoid those embarrassing perspiration stains.

"Most people try not to wear gray because you sweat sometimes," Longville said.

So until the school upgrades and gets central air, short days may be the hot trend.

"If you did a survey and asked the kids would you rather have central air or go home on a hot day, they might choose to say, 'I'd rather go home,'" Casper said.

Lake Preston is letting out school on Wednesday at 2 p.m. for teacher in-services and students get the rest of the week off for the State Fair.

Check the KELOLAND Closeline to find out if your school is letting out early due to the heat.