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Thompson superintendent orders early release amid heat; district cites $140 million for full air-conditioning upgrades
Summary
Superintendent Doctor Heller announced the district moved to early release for two days because many school buildings lack air conditioning. He said equipping all schools would cost about $140 million and that districtwide facility needs total about $700 million. Bus staffing and state testing windows limited other options, he said.
Thompson School District R-2J Superintendent Doctor Heller told the school board on Aug. 20 that the district moved to early release for students on Wednesday and Thursday of the week because of extreme heat and inadequate cooling in many buildings.
"Half of our schools have air conditioning while half do not," Doctor Heller said. He estimated it would cost approximately $140,000,000 to equip all district schools with full, adequate air conditioning. He described that figure as one portion of a broader projected need of about $700,000,000 for critical infrastructure and facilities across the district.
Heller said district staff observed classrooms averaging above…
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