Due to the Excessive Heat Warning issued by the National Weather Service, Rock Island - Milan School District #41 will be dismissing schools early with a significant amount of rooms with no air conditioning.
Eugene Field, Ridgewood, and Rock Island High School will dismiss at 1:30 pm Monday (8/21/23), Tuesday (8/22/23), Wednesday (8/224/23), and Thursday (8/25/23). Afterschool programs at the YMCA, YWCA, and MLK Center will not happen at these three schools.
Friday is an already scheduled early dismissal for the entire district.
All other Rock Island-Milan schools will follow the regular schedule for the week.
ATHLETICS
Due to the forecast for this week, we will need to make some adjustments. As always, we will be following the IHSA Heat Policy. I have attached this document. By following this policy, it seems likely that practices and competitions will need to be canceled or postponed. With that being said, we need to be flexible. Here are some guidelines to use for this week:
Outdoor Sports:
-Early Morning Practices concluding by 7:30 am.
-Evening Practices or Games after 6:00 pm
-Move Practices inside into air-conditioned spaces.
-Outdoor Activities are a NO-GO between 8:00 am-6:00 pm
Indoor Sports:
-Ensure your practice area is air-conditioned. If not, please let me know so I can take a heat stress measurement.
All Sports:
-Ensure water is always available and allow athletes to drink whenever possible.
-Cold water immersion will be set up every day at the stadium. If heat illness is suspected, call 911 and cool the victim with cold water immersion or ice bags and cold water. Cool first, transport second!
We will evaluate each day in real-time. If the weather breaks and conditions are deemed safe, practices/activities will be permitted. Kyle Hoffman, Athletic Trainer, will take the lead in measuring the heat stress conditions.
Please reach out to the Athletic Department with any questions or concerns!
HOW DOES RIMSD #41 DECIDE TO CLOSE SCHOOL, DISMISS EARLY OR START LATE?
When inclement weather is on the horizon, determining whether a school is open or closed seems simple when in reality the district needs to take many considerations in mind. No matter the decision made, some parents will not agree. Some parents have no one to care for their child(ren) and must go to work or lose their jobs. When schools are closed, they are put in a very difficult position. Other parents may disagree with the decision and the effects on student safety.
When inclement weather is on the horizon, determining whether a school is open or closed seems simple when in reality the district needs to take many considerations in mind. No matter the decision made, some parents will not agree. Some parents have no one to care for their child(ren) and must go to work or lose their jobs. When schools are closed, they are put in a very difficult position. Other parents may disagree with the decision and the effects on student safety.
If the decision is to keep school open and parents/guardians do not feel child(ren) would be safe, parents may decide to keep the child(ren) at home. The final decision is in the parent's hands.
If parents choose to keep their children home on a school day in inclement weather conditions, parents need to contact the school. The absence is considered “excused” and all work is accepted for full credit.
Each weather condition is unique and it does not mean that schools will be open regardless of the weather conditions
The decision to close school due to weather conditions is a decision that has many variables, however, in each case there is always one priority - student and staff safety.