Heat forces schools to dismiss, close early

Most of New England in the midst of another heatwave as students head back to class

BOSTON — Some school districts in New England either canceled classes or sent children home early Tuesday as excessive heat baked the region and disrupted the start of the new school year.

The heat index surpassed 100 degrees in some areas of southern New England as temperatures soared into the 90s and the dewpoint reached the mid70s, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service issued either an excessive heat warning or a heat advisory for the entire region except for the Massachusetts island of Nantucket and Block Island.

Many schools in the region aren’t air conditioned.

Public schools in Holyoke, Massachusetts, were supposed to open Tuesday, but the first day of school was pushed back two days.

“Many of our buildings are not equipped to keep students and staff cool enough during such extreme weather conditions,” Superintendent Steve

Zrike wrote to parents. “In the interest of student and staff safety, it is best to launch our school year on Thursday.”

Unfortunately for students, heat days, like snow days, have to be made up at the end of the school year, district spokeswoman Judy Taylor said.

Schools in West Haven, Connecticut, and Haverhill, Massachusetts, as well as some other districts dismissed early Tuesday.

“While we will certainly not jeopar-

dize anyone’s health or safety, it is my hope that we will lose as little instructional time as possible this early in the school year,” West Haven Superintendent Neil Cavallaro said in a message to parents.

Haverhill Superintendent Margaret Marotta said early release days count as full days of school, and do not have to be made up.

Classes were held as scheduled in schools in New Hampshire and Vermont, where temperatures were slightly less oppressive.

Many other school districts, including in Boston, aren’t scheduled to open until after Labor Day.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says the city will open cooling centers and cityrun pools will be free for residents the next two days.

Rhode Island environmental officials issued a statewide air quality alert.

Few Rhode Island schools took action, though East Greenwich public schools were dismissed two hours early, while West Warwick schools were also dismissed early and after-school activities canceled. Scituate and Pawtucket public schools also canceled all activities, including athletics for Wednesday.

The heat is forecast to break on Thursday.