By Maggie Downs
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sixth-grader Maria Ferris tries to cool down in her Carson Elementary classroom. (Michael E. Keating photos) | ZOOM |

First assignment: Keep cool.

That's what's on the agenda for tens of thousands of children in Greater Cincinnati who are trying to beat the heat in their classrooms.

Thursday, the first day of school for many of those students, was one of the hottest days of the year. That poses problems in older buildings that lack air conditioning.

"It's, like, 91 degrees, but it feels like 1,000," said Sylvia Burke, 10, of Price Hill, wiping her pink forehead with the back of her hand at Carson Elementary, a Cincinnati Public School.

The high of 89 was not unusual for late August, but high humidity caused the heat index to soar to 95 degrees.

"If you're in a school with limited circulation, it would be a lot more stifling," said meteorologist Don Hughes of the National Weather Service. "Unfortunately, with schools starting earlier every year, they're going to have these days."

Students could feel some small relief today. The forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms with a high of 86.

In Cincinnati Public, where just 8 percent of buildings have central-air systems, teachers and staff plan for the heat.

Teacher Georgia Keith carries bags of ice donated by the Vine Street Kroger store into Vine Street Elementary. | ZOOM |

"They do anything they can to keep things cool," said Christine Wolff, assistant communications manager for CPS. "Our teachers are used to doing this, so they know the drill."

McKinley Elementary in the East End - a Civil War-era school building and the oldest operating school in Ohio this year - allowed students to bring water bottles and dress "comfortably but modestly" in shorts and sleeveless shirts.

"We're not going around like the fashion police - we're just glad that they're here," principal Melody Dacey said.

At Carson, as in many other local schools, homework assignments included the following: Bring bottled water to class, and lots of it.

"Tomorrow I'm bringing one - no, two - gallons," said Jacob Earls, 11.

By the end of the day, students were feeling the heat.

"The kids are tired. They're worn out. Their faces are all just bright red," said Ryan Casey, a second-grade teacher at Carson. "You can definitely tell they don't pay attention as much."

In classrooms with multiple fans and open windows, students fanned themselves with their hands. Hair was matted to perspiring brows. Any spark of excitement about the first day of school was doused with sweat.

"We just sit there and sweat," said Joe Siemering, 12. "It gives you headaches and makes it hard for you to listen to the teacher."

Principal Claire Kubiak said Carson typically suffers a few steamy, sizzling days before summer temperatures simmer down. Still, she looks forward to a new building - and air conditioning - in 2008.

Meantime, "we're opening all the windows we can possibly open," Kubiak said.

Some schools dismissed students early Thursday, including St. Ursula Academy in East Walnut Hills, where students got out at 1:30 p.m., 90 minutes early. A rigid bus schedule prevents Cincinnati Public from doing the same.

In Butler County, air conditioning in Hamilton schools is "few and far between," district spokeswoman Joni Copas said. Fans and water bottles help relieve the heat for most, while others have ceiling fans and window air conditioners, paid for by parent groups.

Norwood City Schools opened Tuesday, a week earlier than usual. Five of the district's six building are not air-conditioned.

"We knew heat would be an issue, but we need these extra days to prepare for proficiency tests in March," superintendent Steve Collier said.

Heat emergencies are still at a minimum, according to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. If temperatures climb, that could change.

"It's just now getting into the 90s, and that's when we usually see them," said Dr. Sheryl Allen, pediatrics emergency medicine specialist.

At Batavia Elementary, which marked its first day Thursday, a first-grader was overcome by the heat and started vomiting but "perked up" after eating a Popsicle, school nurse Cathy Meyer said.

"We're prepared," Meyer said. "I have about 300 Popsicles in my office and teachers have refrigerators in their rooms with more Popsicles and cold drinks."

Even parents are helping kids keep their cool.

"One parent came in this morning with a big fan and said, 'I don't know what classroom my child is in, but that's where this fan goes,' " Kubiak said.

Hot and cold

The Enquirer surveyed regional districts on the number of buildings equipped with air conditioning:

Boone County: 100 percent of classrooms have air-conditioning.

Campbell County: 100 percent.

Cincinnati: 8 percent (but many schools have window units in some classrooms, libraries and offices).

Lakota: 100 percent.

Northwest: 25 percent (but some schools have window units).

West Clermont: No buildings have full air-conditioning, but many have window units in offices and other rooms.Thursday's high temperature of 89 degrees was measurably below the record of 101 set in 1936, but it felt a lot closer to the record than it actually was.

Peggy O'Farrell and Anna Guido contributed. E-mail mdowns@enquirer.com