Some Connecticut schools dismiss students early due to heat

NORWALK, Conn. (WABC) -- Several Connecticut school districts dismissed students early due to record heat Tuesday.

Many schools across the state dismissed students at 12:45, and some are planning to do so on Wednesday as well.

Here are the schools in Norwalk dismissing two hours early:

Nathan Hale Middle School

Ponus Ridge Middle School

Roton Middle School

West Rocks Middle School

Cranbury Elementary

Kendall Elementary

Naramake Elementary

Rowayton Elementary

Silvermine Elementary

Tracey Elementary

Wolfpit Elementary

All after-school activities at these schools were also canceled for Tuesday.

Temperatures were at or near record levels with highs of at least 90 degrees and real feel temps in the triple digits in many areas. Temperatures are expected to fall slightly on Wednesday, but rising humidity levels will increase the heat index.

Norwalk Public Schools had to dismiss early last Thursday as well. Middle schoolers in Norwalk were more than happy to head home early. In the city and across a handful of Fairfield County school districts, classes camed to an end before the afternoon's peak heat kicked in.

"It's really hot in our school because there's no air-conditioning," said 5th grader Brianna Otto.

"It's a lot of kids in there, it gets muggy, we have a lot of asthma issues so sometimes it's tough for them to breathe," said parent Dave Kruseski. "I don't have a problem with it, it's going to be a couple of days."

The new school year is barely underway in Norwalk, but for the second time seven elementary schools and four middle schools wrapped up two hours early. But not all parents and guardians, many of whom have to re-arrange child care schedules, agree with the decision.

"My daughter is in kindergarten, she just started," said parent Jean Edwards. "She really needs structure as all the other kindergarteners do, and this is going to negatively affect their education."

"We never had days off when I went to school," said grandparent Phyliss DiMelio.

School officials say the heat and humidity is just too extreme, and that the early dismissal involves only schools with limited or no air conditioning. Opening windows and running fans was just not providing enough relief, which leads to another complaint from parents.

"How come they don't have air conditioning? There wouldn't be no dismissal. Where's our taxes going?", said one parent.