Palm Desert Summer Schools Adjust Schedules Amid Extreme Heat

The summer heat is forcing schools in the Coachella Valley to make major adjustments to keep students safe. At James Earl Carter Elementary in Palm Desert, summer school staff are limiting outdoor activity as temperatures soar and humidity rises.

“We're not able to take them out once it goes over 102 degrees or 20% humidity,” said Justin Hickey, a local program coordinator. “We let the parents know there are excessive heat warnings in place.”

Hickey says children are still able to enjoy some morning outdoor time before conditions worsen. But as the day heats up, plans quickly shift indoors. “I was a kid with a lot of energy,” Hickey said. “I know what it’s like to want to be outside playing sports. But we have to adjust, especially when it gets this hot.”

Instead of playgrounds or basketball courts, students now stay cool with video games, dance sessions, and arts and crafts inside air-conditioned trailers.

“It’s getting hotter and hotter every year,” Hickey said. “When you’re young, you don’t always recognize the danger. But as adults, we understand the risks.”

According to the National Weather Service, extreme heat is the deadliest form of weather in the United States. With record-breaking highs hitting the Coachella Valley this summer, school staff are doing everything possible to prevent heat-related illness.

“There are some days where we’re not able to go out at all because it’s just too humid,” Hickey added. “We don’t want a child passing out due to heat exposure.”

As temperatures rise, schools across the region are expected to continue adapting their schedules to prioritize student safety.

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