Sweltering heat, humidity cause 5-straight early outs at West Fork last week

     Last week’s hot and steamy weather created quite an uncomfortable situation for both students and faculty at West Fork.

     "I walk into my room and it's like a whole other world – like a wall of heat," said Kristen Determan, reading and language instructor at Rockwell.

     Classes were dismissed early five days in a row from Aug. 26-30. Both school buildings in Sheffield and Rockwell do not have air conditioning, and the scorching temperatures and thick humidity made classrooms almost unbearable. According to Superintendent Darrin Strike, school was dismissed early due to heat only four times in the last six years prior to last week.

     "Students become lethargic when it gets this hot, and we've experienced some nausea," said Strike. "But we've been very productive in the classroom because people come prepared. So when it becomes so unbearable, they're done."

Read the full article in the Sept. 4 edition of the Hampton Chronicle.