Balto. Co. board to consider discarding heat closure policy
Baltimore County’s school board will consider Tuesday whether to discard a controversial policy which forced the closure of county schools without air conditioning for several days at the start of the school year due to heat.
The policy, approved last August, directs the superintendent to close non-air-conditioned county schools when the heat index is forecast to reach 90 degrees or higher by 11 a.m. the next day.
The board created the policy in response to parents whose children attend schools without air conditioning. Parents had said conditions in hot school buildings negatively affected students’ health and academic performance.
Under the policy, Superintendent Dallas Dance closed 37 schools four times in the first 12 days of the 2016-2017 school year.
This month a policy review committee — composed of four members of the 12-member school board — voted 3-1 to recommend the policy be rescinded.
The school board is scheduled to discuss the matter at its meeting Tuesday in Towson.
Michele Prumo, school system chief of staff, said Dance already has authority to close, delay, or dismiss schools in emergency situations — including inclement weather, excessive heat or building system failure.
An analysis of the policy conducted by the school system determined it “may have a negative impact on end-of-year school activities” if heat became a factor toward the end of the school year. When schools close, after-school activities — including end-of-year celebrations and sporting events — also are canceled.
In January, Dance said all but 13 county schools will have air conditioning by this fall.
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