Santa Barbara schools implement minimum days due to extreme heat

The Santa Barbara Unified School District has announced minimum-day schedules for six schools this Thursday due to an extreme heat wave. The affected campuses include Harding, McKinley, Santa Barbara High School, Santa Barbara Junior High, Franklin, and Cleveland.

To ensure student safety, schools are restricting outdoor physical activities, increasing hydration breaks, and utilizing shaded or air-conditioned spaces. While parents have the option to pick up children early, those who remain on campus through the regular school day will be supervised by staff in air-conditioned classrooms.

After-school A-OK programming will continue at elementary school sites, with staff adjusting classroom locations to maximize use of cooler environments. Additionally, Santa Barbara High School athletics will adjust practices and contests based on the weather conditions. Local health officials have issued warnings for residents to stay hydrated and limit strenuous outdoor activity as temperatures are forecasted to reach between 94 and 95 degrees.