COLUMBIA - Columbia Public Schools let out kids early again Friday because of the heat. But this time, the temps held steady and the rain came pouring down.
This is the second time in one day Carol Montie picked up kids from school. She was at the school earlier to pick up her kids, and now she returns to pick up her neighbor's kids.
But stress for Carol Montie means fun-time for her kids, let out early once again from school due to the escalating temperature.
Despite the early dismissal, the heat did not reach its estimated levels, the air cooled off by the early rain.
"The heat was supposed to last through today and then the rain would come through this evening," said Lynn Barnett, with Columbia Public Schools.
Picking up the kids in the middle of a busy workday means parents must rearrange their schedules, but Carol's concern was not her schedule: "We all make those adjustments. We cancel appointments. We stop in the middle of grocery shopping to get the kids."
Officials made the decision for an early dismissal more than a day in advance.
"We knew that with the heat that we were having it would be extremely difficult to get the buildings cooled off, even for today," said Barnett.
Carol says despite the temperature inside the school, any day can be pretty rough:
It's more about these kids sitting in a school with no air conditioning at the tune of 90 degrees, 95 degrees.
It may be an interruption in her workday but Carol is more concerned about her kids' safety.
"Just to sit there in that stagnant air where there's no fans moving it or air-conditioning moving it. Yeah, I'd rather have my kids home," said Montie.
Her kids are just happy that they get a longer recess in the middle of the school day.
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