Rapid City Area Schools -

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,

The start of the school year brings both excitement and challenges. One challenge we are currently facing is managing extreme heat in some of our buildings, particularly those without cooling systems. We know that high classroom temperatures can significantly affect both learning and the well-being of students and staff. Your patience, flexibility, and understanding as we navigate these conditions are deeply appreciated.

Because each of our schools is unique—differing in age, HVAC systems, and location—temperature conditions vary widely across the district. The following schools have limited or no cooling systems and are most affected by high heat: Grandview, Horace Mann, Meadowbrook, Pinedale, Rapid Valley, Robbinsdale, South Canyon, South Park, Wilson, and North Middle School.

When forecasts predict temperatures in the 90s, our facilities team carefully reviews conditions to determine whether an early release is necessary. Whenever possible, we aim to make these decisions the day before so families and staff have time to plan. If an early release is called, we will communicate through email, text, and phone call, as well as post the information on our district’s social media.

While it may seem easiest to set a single temperature to trigger an early release, multiple factors must be considered, including:

• Current temperatures inside school buildings
  

• Forecasted temperatures
  

• Forecasted humidity and heat index
  

• Forecasted cloud cover
  

• Anticipated effectiveness of nightly air dumps (bringing in cooler outside air overnight to reduce indoor temperatures)
  
  

We understand that early release days can be inconvenient, especially for working families, and we do not make these decisions lightly. Our top priority is the health, safety, and learning of our students and staff.

Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership as we manage these hot days together. By working collaboratively and communicating clearly, we can keep our schools safe, our students learning, and our staff supported.