Some schools in Massachusetts and New York make adjustments in schedules due to heat wave

Summer break will start a few days early in one Massachusetts school district due to the heat and multiple school districts in upstate New York are sending students home earlier in the day. 

Worcester Public Schools in Massachusetts is ending its entire school year early, with the last day of school being today, according to a statement from the superintendent. 

“Because of the age of our buildings, many do not have air conditioning. We regret that we are ending the school year in an abrupt manner, but we want to ensure our students and staff are safe in what are predicted to be unusually hot temperatures,” Rachel Monárrez wrote in the statement.

Other school districts in upstate New York are implementing half days and early dismissals because of the weather.

The Syracuse City School District implemented half days this week at its elementary, middle and pre-K through 8 schools due to the “impending forecast that includes extremely high temperatures,” the district wrote in a statement. High schoolers will follow the normal planned schedule since all high schools in the district have access to air-conditioned environments.  

Rochester City School District also implementing its early dismissal schedule for students in grades pre-K through 8 and canceled all after-school activities, according to a statement on the school district’s website.