For the second day, Philly schools order students to stay inside, cancel field trips, keep windows closed

For a second day in a row, the Philadelphia School District is asking staff and students to remain inside, cancel field trips and keep windows closed as poor air quality again plagues the region.

“Students and staff are encouraged to wear masks during the commute to and from work and school. At schools, outside activities such as recess, outside field trips and field days will be moved indoors if possible, postponed or canceled,” Oz Hill, the district’s chief operating officer, wrote in a message Thursday to district staff and families.

Philadelphia’s air quality is currently ranked as “hazardous” by federal and city officials.

Hill also said that school windows and doors will remain closed. Many Philadelphia schools are not air-conditioned.

“According to the forecasts for the rest of the week, temperatures are not expected to exceed 78 degrees Farenheit. Though warm, indoor temperatures should not reach levels that would warrant early dismissals at schools,” Hill said.

The district’s hot-weather protocol calls for officials to begin monitoring conditions when temperatures are projected to reach 85 degrees and above. When the mercury hits 90, conversations take place around whether buildings that are not climate-controlled should close or dismiss early.

Hill said the district will continue to follow Philadelphia’s public-health guidance “and will provide regular updates as the air quality status changes.”