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Policy committee amends temperature-standards policy to 0°F low and 95°F high and forwards to full board
Summary
On May 11 the Portland Board of Public Education policy committee voted unanimously to forward an amended temperature-standards policy (EBBD) to the full board, lowering the cold cutoff to 0°F (including feels-like) and setting a 95°F outdoor maximum (including heat index); members discussed transportation and vulnerability of students in heat.
The Portland Board of Public Education’s Policy Committee voted unanimously May 11 to forward an amended temperature-standards policy (EBBD) to the full board, adopting two committee amendments that set outdoor minimum and maximum cutoffs and asking staff to align procedures and training with the new thresholds.
Chair Maya Alena proposed two specific edits to EBBD: lower the minimum outdoor temperature to 0°F, including "feels like," and set the outdoor maximum temperature to 95°F, including heat index. "I am proposing to change the minimum outdoor temperature to 0° F including the...feels like, and I also am proposing to change the outdoor maximum temperature to 95° F including the heat index," she said.
Dr. Sarah Warren summarized existing practice and health context: schools reported mixed cutoffs for outdoor recess (commonly 13°F or 17°F with wind chill), and earlier draft guidance had suggested reducing activity around 100–105°F. District nursing staff reported several heat-related incidents in recent years, mostly involving students with chronic conditions. Dr. Warren said athletics programs follow National Federation of State High School Associations guidance and that staff would update procedures and training once policy language is finalized.
Committee members discussed operational impacts: most buses are not air conditioned and the district’s air-conditioned vehicles are small vans, so summer programming and vehicle exposure require planning. "The only vehicles we have right now that are air conditioned are vans and they're small. They don't transport many students. Our buses are not air conditioned and they can get very hot," Dr. Warren said.
Vice Chair Maki Bond and other members voiced support for the amendment setting 95°F as the outdoor maximum, noting equity concerns for schools with limited shade or cooling. After discussion, the committee voted by roll call to pass EBBD as amended to the full board (committee member Ali Ali: yes; committee member Yusra Ali: yes; Vice Chair Maki Bond: yes; Chair Maya Alena: yes).
Dr. Warren said staff will align procedures, emphasize gear and monitoring for vulnerable students, and continue engagement with unions and partners ahead of full-board consideration.
