Education

CPS Reinstates Outdoor Activities Thursday After Extreme Heat Warning Lifted

Chicago Public Schools is no longer canceling outdoor events Thursday afternoon, backing off a previous plan after an extreme heat warning for the city was lifted.

The district initially said Thursday morning that in order to ensure the health and safety of students and staff, all outdoor activities — including outdoor recess, physical education, athletics and out-of-school time activities — would either be canceled or held inside if possible. That would have marked the second consecutive day with such cancellations amid dangerous heat and humidity across Chicago.

But after the National Weather Service lifted its Extreme Heat Warning for Cook County, CPS on Thursday afternoon said it was lifting its heat protocols for all schools, meaning outdoor activities would continue as normal for the remainder of the day.

“We understand that these events were canceled earlier in the day, so if it is not possible for schools to reverse that decision at this point, that is fine,” the district said in a letter to parents Thursday afternoon. “But if schools have the flexibility to change and hold practices and games outdoors, they are free to do so.”

Heat indices were expected to reach up to 105 degrees on Thursday, the weather service said.

CPS CEO Macquline King said all district classrooms are equipped with air conditioning, and the district’s facilities team will be working with schools to fix any air conditioning systems that may encounter issues this week.

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