PUSD Superintendent explains early release decision
By Debra Moore
This morning Plumas Unified School District issued notification that four of its schools, located in Greenville and Quincy, would be placed on early release due to the heat. Later in the morning Portola High School was added to the list for today and Wednesday only.
When asked to clarify how the decision was made, Superintendent Bill Roderick said that the school district uses one specific website — weather underground — to determine closures due to the forecast temperatures. Roderick said that last Friday, the heat wasn’t expected to be as prolonged as it is now forecast to be. Even as early as this morning, the forecast indicated that Greenville and Quincy would reach temperatures that would soar to highs not conducive to learning in sites without air conditioning, but as the day wore on, Roderick said Portola’s temperatures rose higher than predicted.
The early releases impact only those schools without air conditioning. In Greenville, neither the elementary nor the high school have air conditioning. In Portola, CRC Elementary School has air conditioning (it’s a newer build) but Portola High does not. Quincy High School has air conditioning (a new system based on the community’s preference for that use of Measure B funds), but its two elementary schools do not.
As for Chester, Roderick said that “Chester has had the most favorable forecast for the week; it’s not as hot over there.” He also consulted with the administration and teachers at the school sites in making the decision.
As for the late notification — after the school day got underway — Roderick said he knew that it was a “terrible inconvenience” for parents, but the forecasts had changed. Based on the extended forecast, the early releases will continue through the end of the week except at Portola High School, where it’s in place for today and Wednesday only.
The early releases will last throughout the week and are as follows:
Greenville Elementary – early release 12:30 p.m.
Greenville High School – early release 12:30 p.m.
Quincy Elementary – Alder campus 12:30 p.m.
Quincy Elementary – Pioneer campus 12:40 p.m.
School buses will be running to take students home at both the early release and regular release times.
