It’s expected to reach 100 degrees with smoke filled skies today as a projected 25,250 students make their way to Manteca Unified classrooms to start a new school year.

And being at a Manteca Unified campus is arguably the safest place students can be today given poor air quality and the heat.

*Every one of the 1,600 plus classrooms as well as other areas such as libraries, offices, and multipurpose rooms have hospital-quality portable air scrubbers.

*More than half of the district’s 2,000 or so air conditioning units have been replaced and are equipped  with top-of-the-line air filters.

*Teachers – as well as support staff — have been trained to look for heat-related issues that students may be experiencing.

*Each classroom is equipped with a “red book” with information re-enforcing the actions needed in specific situations.

“Site administrators are trained in how to deal with extreme heat,” noted Anthony Chapman, who serves as the Director of Certificated Personnel for Manteca Unified.

Chapman spent the past several years serving as principal at Mossdale Elementary School before being moving to the district office.

He noted the district two years ago dealt with a school day in early September where the high reached 115 degrees.

The same procedures used then will be in force when the heat passes 100 degrees this school year.

*School staff is reminded of the importance of following the Centers for Disease Control protocols designed to prevent heat-related illnesses.

*PE classes and outdoor recesses are adjusted so they take place in the cooler part of the day. PE activities take into account the heat.

*Students are reminded to drink water and to stay in the shade when outside.

*Sports practices may be moved indoors or to the cooler part of the day,

*Coaches are also required  to use a “wet bulb” to monitor conditions during practices.

A wet bulb measures the temperature read by a thermometer covered in a wet cloth. As water evaporates from the cloth, evaporation cools the thermometer. This mirrors how the human body cools itself with sweat.

 High wet-bulb temperatures are dangerous because humans lose around 80% of heat through sweating, so when both humidity and air temperature are high it becomes harder to shed excess heat. Sweat evaporates very slowly, if at all, in very humid conditions.

“It is a top priority that our students and staff — especially those working outdoors — stay safe in the heat,” said District Superintendent  Clark Burke.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com