CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — As heat baked the region, Clayton County Public Schools cancelled all outdoor activities Thursday, including recess, physical education classes and “any outdoor activity associated with specific coursework.”
In an advisory, school officials said they made the decision because the heat index forecast had reached “Red Level” status.
School officials declined interviews, but they sent a written statement to Channel 2’s Bryan Mims: “After carefully monitoring data from the National Weather Service, the leadership of Clayton County Public Schools made this decision out of an abundance of caution for our students and staff in compliance with Clayton County Board of Education policies.”
The district advised athletic programs to follow protocols set by the Georgia High School Association.
Coaches use what’s called the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature, which measures not only heat and humidity, but the sun angle, solar radiation and wind speed to determine heat stress. If that temperature is above 92 degrees, the GHSA says practice and conditioning should move indoors.
It’s unclear whether all schools cancelled outdoor practices, but a football game at Southern Crescent Stadium in Riverdale went on as scheduled at 6 p.m.
Many parents applaud the district’s policy to keep students indoors when the heat index is high.
“It’s a good idea. It’s hot out here,” said Detyra Riley, who has a child at Calloway Elementary School in Jonesboro. “My dash is saying it’s 96, and I’m sure it’s hotter than that.”
But another parent, DeShawn Powlett, said cancelling all outdoor activities is extreme.
“That’s just ridiculous,” he said. “That makes no sense. It’s 97 or 98 degrees. The kids need something to do. I went outside when I was in school. Now, all of a sudden, they stop this. For what?”
Clayton County appears to be one of the only school districts in metro Atlanta to cancel outdoor activities. Channel 2 checked with Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Forsyth County schools. They did not cancel outdoor activities, but advised caution and for principals to use their discretion.
The heat index level is forecast to be above 100 degrees in metro Atlanta again Friday and Clayton County school officials could decide to keep students indoors again.
Parent Nathaniel Smith said it all comes down to health and safety during extreme heat.
“I try to keep them in the house,” he said. “Kids can get hurt and pass out from the heat.”
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