© 2024 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

With earlier start, Flint schools battling the heat

steve carmody
/
Michigan Radio

Flint Junior High was closed Wednesday because of high temperatures inside the school.

Other Flint public school students are getting some relief from the heat.

“It’s hot in here….is it hot in here everybody?” asked the principal at Brownell STEM academy at a midday assembly on Tuesday. The students gathered in the school’s steamy gymnasium replied in unison, “yeah.” The assembly was to announce the delivery of a dozen portable air conditioners being donated by a local church.

This is Flint’s first year with a balanced school calendar, which started earlier this month. But many schools aren’t set up for the August heat. 

“If we’re going to continue with the balanced calendar, we have to have a more permanent solution in place. We just have to,” says Diana Wright, the school board president.  

Wright is glad the members of the Flint community are helping students be comfortable in class.

She’s optimistic the district will get funding to upgrade the air conditioning in all Flint public schools in time for next summer.

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
Related Content