Amid high temperatures, Avoca West cancels school Thursday

A local school without central air conditioning has canceled classes for Thursday, Aug. 24, amid Chicagoland’s heat wave.

In an email to district families, Avoca District 37 Superintendent Dr. Kaine Osburn said Avoca West elementary school will not open Thursday and with the high temperature makes “the learning environment … not healthy for our students and staff.”

The National Weather Service designated a heat warning for much of Chicagoland Aug. 23-24, predicating temperatures to approach 90 degrees with heat indices up to 115 degrees. It will likely feel a less hot near the lake, according to NWS.

A cold front is expected to advance off the lake and lower temperatures into the 70s overnight Thursday to Friday, the NWS estimates.

Avoca District 37 serves residents in Wilmette, Northfield, Winnetka and Glenview.

Other local schools that have central air have continued to operate; though, the high temperatures are also impacting local sports and activities. High schools Loyola Academy, New Trier, Highland Park, Regina Dominican and North Shore Country Day must follow the heat-related regulations of the IHSA, which stipulate no outdoor practices or competitions can take place under certain conditions that are expected to apply Wednesday and Thursday.

Avoca West, as well as D37’s Marie Murphy middle school, welcomed students back on Wednesday, Aug. 23, for the new school year; however, it was a shortened day at Avoca West.

Marie Murphy, which has AC, will operate on Thursday but the school is encouraging parents to pick up their children after school.

Adding air conditioning to Avoca West is one of many of the district’s facilities goals. It was also one of several improvements on which the district collected resident feedback in May, when officials presented a plan that could cost anywhere from $30 million to $90 million.

“The Administration and Board of Education understand and share the frustration at having to cancel school,” Osburn wrote. “As you know, the Board has looked at this problem and other facilities problems extensively over the last year and will be seeking community feedback this Fall on the best option for the future.”

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