Schools close early, pools open early to beat the heat in Westchester
YONKERS, N.Y. (PIX11) -- A few school districts north and northwest of New York City are sending students home early in order to beat the heat this week. It's a necessary move in places like Yonkers, the third largest school district in New York State, because many of the school buildings have no air conditioning.
One kindergartner, Wilda, summed up the situation in two simple words.
"Half day!" she exclaimed, while licking an ice cream pop after her early dismissal from P.S. 17. When asked how she felt about getting out of school early, her response was straightforward. "Good," she said.
She and her brother, who's in third grade, were walking with their father past another school, P.S. 21. Its windows were wide open at midday, since very few of its rooms have air conditioners. PIX11 News used an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature in a ground floor classroom in the three-story school. It was at least 80 degrees, without any students or teachers present, or lights on.
"They had early dismissal," said Mike Disciullo, a Yonkers public school parent. He spoke with PIX11 News while cooling off with his two elementary school-age daughters. They were at Sprain Ridge Park pool, which had been opened specifically to help families handle the heatwave that's gripped the region.
If he weren't at the pool with his girls, he said, "I'd be home sweating in the house."
Sprain Ridge Park Pool hadn't been scheduled to open until June 28, but the Westchester Parks Department opened it and the Saxon Woods Park pool in White Plains earlier in the month than had been scheduled in order to help families beat the heat.
Samuel Ranguy, 10, said that his family's choice to come to the pool was a relief.
"It feels pretty nice being cooler," he said from the pool deck, seconds before jumping into the water with his brother, "instead of burning hot in the open sun."
The open sun was also quite visible on the sands of Croton Point Park beach on the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon. The county opened it and Glenn Point Park beach in New Rochelle earlier in the season than usual to provide a respite for families.
The beaches will remain open through this coming weekend. The pools at Saxon Point and Sprain Ridge will be closed this weekend but will be open on Friday.
Also on Friday, Yonkers schools will have early dismissal. Its schools that open at 7:35 a.m. will close at 11 a.m. Schools that open at 8:35 a.m. will close at noon.