MILWAUKEE - Even with extreme summer heat, Grantosa summer classes begin each day at 7:30 a.m., and there's no central air in the building. So, officials did what they could to keep it cool.
The first order of business was to move everyone to the basement.
“We just try to make some accommodations such as making sure that we have fans and water and popsicles for our students, and the shades are pulled, and just keeping an eye on everybody’s health and wellness," said Sandy Schroeder of the MPS Extended Learning Opportunities.
Summer students typically get outside, but with temps in the 90s, it was an indoor day.
“We try to have more activities inside in a cooler environment and also keep an eye on the students to make sure that they’re drinking fluids on a regular basis, even if they’re not thirsty," said Schroeder.
United Way volunteers helped kids keep hydrated as part of the Intern Day of Action.
“So we’re in the basement today trying to stay a little cool down here. I’m trying, I have my water bottle over there but I’m trying to drink as much as I can, but it is pretty stuffy down here for sure," said Brandon Guerrero, a volunteer for United Way.
Despite being in a stuffy basement, the good outweighed the bad for Guerrero. He says he'll be back.
“I’ve never done this before and you just can’t go wrong. If you like kids, this is like the perfect opportunity," said Guerrero.
District-wide, MPS schools have central air in at least one classroom, like a computer lab. On Thursday, those rooms got a lot of use. Students got to rotate through them to cool off.
