At least three school districts in Arkansas are releasing students early Thursday and Friday due to the extreme heat plaguing the state this week.
With heat indexes ranging from 108 to 115 degrees across the state according to the National Weather Service, the Malvern School District in southwest Arkansas and the Brookland School District in northeast Arkansas made the decision to let students out early both days.
The decision by both districts was made primarily due to hot temperatures on school buses, especially those that don't have air conditioning.
Additionally, Pulaski County Special School District will early release on Friday because of the heat, as only 52 of its 213-bus fleet are equipped with air conditioners.
Elementary schools in PCSSD will release at 11:15 a.m. and secondary schools will release at 12:15 p.m. Students will receive lunch at school prior to dismissal.
A district spokesperson said the heat index for Friday "was the greatest concern" for the week, with it forecast to be about 112 degrees in the 3 to 4 p.m. window, when the district usually lets out.
The half day missed will be made up at some point in the school year.
Brookland, which has five schools and posted an announcement on social media just after 9 a.m. Thursday, decided to release students at 1:30 p.m. each day.
George Kennedy, an assistant superintendent for Brookland, said of the 22 buses in its fleet, 13 are without air conditioning and that heat indexes were reaching "well over" 100 degrees on the buses.
"As we replace a bus, as we buy a new bus, it has air conditioning on it," Kennedy said.
"We're trying to get the kids home before it's at its hottest," Kennedy added. "We're also (making sure) each bus driver (has) water available for them in the afternoon."
Kennedy was asked why the decision to early release was made on Thursday morning when the heat indexes have been in the triple digits much of the week.
"Because we want to be in school," Kennedy said. "We do want the kids to be here. And we were meeting trying to come up with ideas to keep them safe and just realized that we couldn't go any farther. We don't want to risk anybody being sick or our kids or our staff. And it's cool here in the building. But when we let him out to go home, it's at its hottest. We just just made that decision this morning that we need to do it for the next for the next two days."
In addition to the announcement made on social media, Kennedy said parents were notified of the early release decision via automated phone calls, text messages and emails.
"It's not a perfect system," Kennedy said. "But we sent out that message just immediately after we made the decision
Regarding how Brookland will make up the missed time for its school year, Kennedy said "we will make that decision at a later time."
"Thank you for taking this seriously!" a woman named Kristin Ungerank said in a comment on Brookland's Facebook announcement. "Some of the bus riders don't have the luxury of being picked up after school! That has to be miserable! With a temperature of 99 and a heat index of 107. Good call!"
Another, Monica Wilmore, commented "thankful to have a school that thinks of our bus riders and wants the best for all students."
Malvern, which has four schools, made its announcement late Wednesday night on social media at 9:43 p.m., while also notifying parents via automated phone messages.
The district said bus routes would start dismissing at 11:30 a.m.
"The routes will be staggered to allow bus riders with longer routes to be on buses with air conditioners," the statement noted. "We are unable to give a time that your child will arrive home. If you choose for your child to remain at school, you will need to call the school but you will be responsible for getting them home. If your child is a car rider, he/she may be picked up between 11:30-3:00."
A Malvern Schools spokesperson said the district attempted to go about business as usual through the end of the week, but after "observing students being ill and drivers been ill from just getting too hot on the bus for so long" the decision was made for the early release format.
"Drivers are on there more, longer than the students," the spokesperson said. "Most of the students are an hour one way. So it's like a tin can and it's just so hot and we decided for the safety of our students and our drivers that it would be better to do this for the next couple of days, and hopefully, the heat will be over."
The kickoff of Malvern's Jr. High football game Thursday was delayed to 6:30 p.m. Friday's Sr. High game will now start at 8 p.m.
If you are a parent of a student in one of the school districts in this story and would like to share your thoughts on the districts' decision to early release students today and Friday, please email reporter Daniel McFadin at dmcfadin@adgnewsroom.com.